Department for Transport

Railway Stations: Horden

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the expected delivery date is for the completion of Horden Railway Station.

Andrew Jones: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 08 June 2015.The correct answer should have been:

The construction of a new station at Horden is being promoted by Durham County Council and funded from the North East Local Enterprise Partnership Growth Deal. To date, no approval has been sought from the Secretary of State for its opening. The Department would expect the sponsors to work with the future Northern franchisee to develop a deliverable plan. The Invitation to Tender for the northern rail franchise, published in February 2015, confirmed that we would be asking bidders to replace the Pacer trains and introduce 120 new-build vehicles by January 2020. This is part of our transformation of rail travel in the north and a step in the creation of a northern powerhouse for the UK economy. The Government established Transport for the North (TfN) in October 2014 to formalise cooperation on transport issues in the North. The aim is for TfN to speak with one voice to Government on the transport priorities for the whole of the North. The Department is working closely with TfN and Rail North to develop and prioritise the rail options so that the first tranche is ready for consideration as part of the Government’s Rail Investment Strategy for the next rail investment period (CP6, 2019 – 2024). There is currently a two-hourly Northern service on the Middlesbrough-Sunderland-Newcastle route, with a couple of extra services. By December 2017, this will become an hourly service.  Northern Rail provides an hourly service in each direction between Newcastle and Middlesbrough throughout the day with some additional trains at peak times with some through trains serving Hexham and Nunthorpe. Northern improved the Sunday service frequency between Newcastle and Middlesbrough in May 2015 so trains now run every hour in each direction through the week.  The ITT for the future franchise requires bidders to provide a materially similar number of train services along the Durham Coast line each day of the week.

Andrew Jones: The construction of a new station at Horden is being promoted by Durham County Council and funded from the North East Local Enterprise Partnership Growth Deal. To date, no approval has been sought from the Secretary of State for its opening. The Department would expect the sponsors to work with the future Northern franchisee to develop a deliverable plan. The Invitation to Tender for the northern rail franchise, published in February 2015, confirmed that we would be asking bidders to replace the Pacer trains and introduce 120 new-build vehicles by January 2020. This is part of our transformation of rail travel in the north and a step in the creation of a northern powerhouse for the UK economy. The Government established Transport for the North (TfN) in October 2014 to formalise cooperation on transport issues in the North. The aim is for TfN to speak with one voice to Government on the transport priorities for the whole of the North. The Department is working closely with TfN and Rail North to develop and prioritise the rail options so that the first tranche is ready for consideration as part of the Government’s Rail Investment Strategy for the next rail investment period (CP6, 2019 – 2024). There is currently a two-hourly Northern service on the Middlesbrough-Sunderland-Newcastle route, with a couple of extra services. By December 2017, this will become an hourly service.  Northern Rail provides an hourly service in each direction between Newcastle and Middlesbrough throughout the day with some additional trains at peak times with some through trains serving Hexham and Nunthorpe. Northern improved the Sunday service frequency between Newcastle and Middlesbrough in May 2015 so trains now run every hour in each direction through the week.  The ITT for the future franchise requires bidders to provide a materially similar number of train services along the Durham Coast line each day of the week.

Rolling Stock: South West

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when his Department will decide whether to order additional new rolling stock from Hitachi to service the far South West; and if he will include a more powerful hybrid engine to account for the undulating geography of the South West in such an order.

Claire Perry: First Great Western’s procurement exercise for new trains to serve the South West is making good progress; and we expect them to submit final proposals to the Department for consideration over the summer. The new train fleet will have appropriate performance characteristics to operate on the far South West routes.

Railway Stations

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to promote the opening of (a) Haxby Station in York Outer constituency and (b) other new railway stations.

Claire Perry: In line with our devolution agenda, it is for local bodies to decide whether to fund new or re-opened local stations such as Haxby. The Government has made available substantial funds to the Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) to support local economic development. The Department is happy to work with local authorities and provide guidance on how to take schemes forward.

Biofuels

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the contribution to (a) jobs and (b) GDP of sustainable fuels in the period up to 2030.

Andrew Jones: The Department employed Ecofys UK Ltd. to produce an overview of the UK biofuel sector. The report was published in April 2014 at:https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/renewable-transport-fuel-obligation-a-draft-post-implementation-review The analysis suggests that the UK’s total biofuel production capacity is over 1,500 million litres per year and that around 562 people are directly employed at the main UK biofuel plants. Additionally jobs in, for example, farming, transport and distribution will be supported by the UK’s sustainable biofuel industry. The report also estimates that several thousand in addition are supported by the Used Cooking Oil (UCO) collection industry. In March the Transport Energy Task Force reported on how the EU 2020 greenhouse gas emissions reduction and renewable transport fuel targets should be reflected in UK policy, and how sustainable low carbon fuels can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from UK transport in the period to 2030 and beyond. This report was published at:http://www.lowcvp.org.uk/projects/transport-energy-task-force.htm The Department is now considering the task force report carefully and will consult on any changes necessary to UK legislation. As part of that exercise we will also seek views on the wider potential economic benefits of biofuel production in the UK and the economic analysis underpinning our proposals.

A47: Road Traffic

Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the effect on the local economy of congestion on the A47; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Jones: The Department undertook a comprehensive study into the A47 in 2014, which utilised the route strategies work carried out by the Highways Agency (now Highways England). This identified congestion on the A47 as one of the reasons constraining economic growth, as well as causing unreliable journeys for road users.Six locations were identified as requiring investment and the details of the proposed schemes were published in the Road Investment Strategy in December 2014.The estimated value of the six schemes is over £300m. Highways England will progress these schemes, as detailed in their Delivery Plan 2015-2020 published in March 2015. They will also update their assessment of congestion on the A47 as they refresh their route strategies in the next few years. Approximately £0.68m has already been recently invested on the A47 in the Peterborough area to deal with congestion through two pinchpoint schemes – improvements at the A1/A47 Wansford Junction and on the A1/A47 Wansford southbound slip road.

Severn River Crossing

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the amount of outstanding Government debt is on the Severn bridges.

Andrew Jones: Outstanding Government debt on the Severn Crossings, also known as the accumulated deficit, was £102m at 31 March 2014. Our forecast is that by the end of the concession period, expected in 2018, this will fall to £88m.

Severn River Crossing

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the Severn bridges will revert to public ownership.

Andrew Jones: The Severn River Crossings concession is expected to end in the first half of 2018. At the end of the concession, the Severn Crossings will revert to public ownership.

Severn River Crossing

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of savings to the public purse from the abolition of the industrial buildings allowance on the Severn Bridges.

Andrew Jones: Under the terms of the concession, Severn River Crossings Ltd (SRC) are compensated for changes in the tax regime. Under an agreement signed in 2012, the amount that SRC can collect in tolls was increased by £24.7m (July 1989 prices) to reflect the abolition of industrial building allowance on the Severn bridges; this is the additional amount of tax revenue from SRC resulting from this change.

Dartford-Thurrock Crossing

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many penalty charge notices for non-payment of the Dart Charge have been issued for since free-flow charging was introduced at the Dartford Crossing.

Andrew Jones: As at 15 June 2015, the total of 867,897 penalty charge notices have been issued for non-payment of the Dart Charge following its introduction on 30th November 2014.

Dartford-Thurrock Crossing

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many penalty charge notices for non-payment of the Dart Charge issued since free-flow charging was introduced (a) have been in respect of foreign-registered vehicles and (b) remain unpaid.

Andrew Jones: As at 15 June 151,871 Penalty Charge Notices have been passed to our European Debt Recovery Agency (EDRA) for issue to non-UK drivers. Currently 143,633 of these remain unpaid. Recovery of charges from overseas can be a lengthy process, as it can take several months to secure registered keeper details.

Road Traffic Offences: Fines

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Government plans to implement the EU Cross-Border Enforcement Directive in respect of non-payment of fines.

Andrew Jones: The Government will implement the requirements of the Directive by 7 May 2017.

Railways: Yorkshire and the Humber

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to improve rail links between Huddersfield and Sheffield.

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many publicly-funded charging points for electric vehicles have been delivered in each of the last 10 years; and how many such points are planned for delivery in 2015.

Andrew Jones: The Department for Transport ran a public consultation to help inform the specification for the new Northern and TransPennine Express franchises, and received over 21,000 responses; a summary of these have been published on the Government’s website. The Invitation To Tender for the Northern franchise has specified the replacement of Pacers (which are currently used) on services between Huddersfield and Sheffield) by the start of 2020, and other rolling stock used on the franchise will be subject to a substantial refurbishment. It also specifies an increase in the Sunday service provision on this route by December 2017. Our process for evaluating franchise bids encourages bidders to exceed the minimum specifications we state, and the bids themselves are due in to the Department by 26 June. We are due to announce the outcome towards the end of the year.

Railways: Yorkshire and the Humber

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has received on improving rail links between Huddersfield and other cities and towns in South Yorkshire.

Andrew Jones: The Department for Transport ran a public consultation to help inform the specification for the new Northern and TransPennine Express franchises, and received over 21,000 responses; a summary of these have been published on the Government’s website. The Invitation To Tender for the Northern franchise has specified the replacement of Pacers (which are currently used) on services between Huddersfield and Sheffield) by the start of 2020, and other rolling stock used on the franchise will be subject to a substantial refurbishment.　 It also specifies an increase in the Sunday service provision on this route by December 2017. Our process for evaluating franchise bids encourages bidders to exceed the minimum specifications we state, and the bids themselves are due in to the Department by 26 June. 　We are due to announce the outcome towards the end of the year.

Railways: Huddersfield

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funds the Government has set aside from (a) the Northern Powerhouse funding and (b) his Department's funding to improve rail links to and from Huddersfield.

Andrew Jones: Rail links to and from Huddersfield will benefit from the investment the Government is already making in the North of England rail network in support of its vision of a Northern Powerhouse. The Government has committed to the Northern Hub and electrification programmes, and capacity improvements at Huddersfield station. The new East Coast franchise awarded in November 2014 will lead to Huddersfield being introduced as a new destination for Intercity East Coast services with one service to and from London per day from 2019. The Government has also required bidders for the new Northern and TransPennine Express franchises to replace outdated trains, add a third more capacity and invest in stations. In addition the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has been provisionally allocated over £780m of Government Growth Deal funding over 20 years towards the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s multimodal West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund, from which priorities for local transport investment will be determined. The Government established Transport for the North (TfN) last year to formalise cooperation with Northern City Regions and LEPs on transport issues in the North. The aim is for TfN to speak with one voice to Government on the transport priorities for the whole of the North. The Department is working closely with TfN and Rail North to develop and prioritise the rail options so that the first tranche is ready for consideration as part of the Government’s Rail Investment Strategy for the next rail investment period (CP6, 2019 – 2024). The Government is providing TfN with a development budget of up to £12.5m in 2015/16 to support its wider strategy development work.

Network Rail

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with (a) the Office of Rail Regulation, (b) the Department's Rail Executive and (c) other bodies on the future of Network Rail.

Mr Patrick McLoughlin: I have regular meetings with a number of stakeholders to discuss a wide range of issues affecting the rail industry, including Network Rail.

Rolling Stock: Procurement

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2015 to Question 1261, whether bi-modal IEP trains running on diesel power will be capable of running at the maximum permitted linespeed of 125 miles per hour.

Claire Perry: The testing programme has demonstrated that the IEP train is capable of running at 125 miles per hour on diesel. Passengers can expect journey time improvements of circa 15 minutes on the routes served.

South Eastern Trains: Rolling Stock

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to allocate surplus Thameslink rolling stock to SouthEastern Trains in response to the submission made to his Department by SouthEastern in February 2015.

Claire Perry: Department for Transport officials have asked Southeastern to consider all available opportunities within the rolling stock market and received outline options in February, with a more detailed proposal due from Southeastern by the end of the month. Any decision on the Department funding additional rolling stock must be supported by a business case which clearly demonstrates both affordability and value for money, and we will be working closely with Southeastern to assess the options, costs and benefits before taking any funding decisions.

Home Office

Radicalism

Mr David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether under proposed legislation on tackling extremism and terrorism, if a person is found guilty of extremism for expressing certain views, all other people who have expressed those views will be prosecuted.

Karen Bradley: We are not intending to create a new criminal offence of extremism in the Bill so the issue of being found guilty will not arise. The Counter-Extremism Bill will introduce new civil powers to tackle extremism. These include Banning Orders to outlaw extremist groups, Extremism Disruption Orders to restrict the harmful activities of individual extremists and Closure Orders to close down premises used to promote extremism.The proposed powers will be applied on a case by case basis taking into account the specific circumstances and actions involved. The legislation will be subject to safeguards to ensure our new powers are used where they are needed to stop extremism and protect the public, including judicial oversight.

MI5

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what provisions there are for oversight of the activities of the Security Service in the devolved assemblies of the UK.

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she has taken to make the Security Service more transparent and accountable.

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she has taken to ensure the Security Service is properly audited.

Mr John Hayes: The intelligence agencies’ work is carried out in accordance with a strict legal and policy framework that ensures their activities are authorised, necessary and proportionate, and provides for rigorous oversight. Intelligence activity is overseen by Secretaries of State, independent Interception of Communications and Intelligence Services Commissioners, the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament, and held to account by the independent Investigatory Powers Tribunal.Since 2010, the Government has taken a range of measures to strengthen this oversight and increase transparency about security and intelligence matters where this does not damage national security. Oversight was significantly enhanced through the Justice and Security Act 2013, which expanded the remit and powers of the ISC. The Government has provided extra resources to the Commissioners who oversee the use of intrusive powers by the intelligence agencies, put elements of oversight on a more transparent and, where possible, statutory footing. In addition, the Interception of Communications Commissioner now produces six monthly rather than annual reports.The Government is taking full account of David Anderson QC’s report and will give full consideration to his detailed recommendations, and those made by the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament, when considering if further imrpovements to the oversight system are needed.The Security and Intelligence Agencies are subject to close budgetary scrutiny and challenging efficiency targets. Their accounts are audited by the National Audit Office. National Audit Office staff have access to relevant records for this purpose. The expenditure and resource allocations of the intelligence agencies are also scrutinised by the ISC as part of its remit.National Security matters are a reserved issue ( this is called “excepted” in Northern Ireland) and have not been devolved. The actions of the Security Service within a devolved region are subject to the same high standards of oversight regardless of where they are operating geographically.

Electronic Surveillance

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to publish the consultation response for the draft equipment interference code of practice.

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the compatibility of the draft equipment interference code of practice with human rights legislation.

Mr John Hayes: The public consultation on the draft Equipment Interference Code of Practice closed in April. The Government is considering the responses carefully and will respond in due course, taking into account all relevant recommendations made by David Anderson in his recent report on investigatory powers.The Government is committed to ensuring that our security and intelligence legislation is fair, effective and proportionate and reflects our duty to protect the public and our interests overseas in a way that is consistent with our lawful rights, the rule of law and transparency. The legal regime governing equipment interference ensures that this activity is conducted compatibly with ECHR rights. The draft Equipment Interference Code of Practice sets out the procedures that must be followed before equipment interference can take place and provides guidance on the processing, retention, destruction and disclosure of any information obtained by means of the interference

National Crime Agency: Staff

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to Action 38 of the UK Anti-Corruption Plan, published in December 2014, what steps she has taken to recruit and retain specialists to support corruption investigations in the National Crime Agency; and what skills specialists so recruited have.

Mike Penning: The National Crime Agency's (NCA) new International Corruption Unit will create a single UK centre of excellence within the NCA for dealing with international bribery and corruption. It brings together resources from the Metropolitan Police Service, the City of London Police and the NCA.Officers joining the new unit are bringing their expertise and specialisms, including financial investigation, data analysis and intelligence development. The recruitment of additional investigators and other specialists is under way and the unit also has the ability to draw on the wider skills and capabilities of the NCA.The Cabinet Office is currently undertaking a wider review of the enforcement response to bribery and corruption.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Diplomatic Service: Former Members

Dr Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department takes to regulate the use by former Members of UK Embassies and High Commissions in a personal capacity.

Mr David Lidington: A former Member would be extended the same advice and courtesies as any other visiting UK national.

Diplomatic Service: Former Members

Dr Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will publish his Department's rules and guidance governing the accommodation of former hon. Members in the official residences of UK Ambassadors and High Commissioners.

Mr David Lidington: Ambassadors and High Commissioners make decisions on the accommodation of former hon. Members in their Residences on a case-by-case basis.

EU Reform

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what key issues relating to EU reform the Government has identified from the Balance of Competences review.

Mr David Lidington: The review reinforces the case for EU reform. This includes a broader and deeper Single Market, greater competitiveness and flexibility, better (and less) regulation and more transparent and accountable institutions and processes.

EU Reform

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his objectives are for negotiations with representatives of the EU and EU member state governments on EU reform.

Mr David Lidington: The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), has already been clear about areas where he wants to see reform. These include: reforming welfare; increasing economic competitiveness to create jobs and growth; protecting Britain's interests outside the euro; and dealing with the idea of Ever Closer Union – which may be right for others but is not right for Britain.

China: Defence Policy

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for UK policy of the Chinese Military Strategy white paper published in May 2015; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Hugo Swire: China’s Defence White Paper reflects its growing military ambition and its desire to expand its capabilities beyond its immediate neighbourhood. The implications of the White Paper for UK policy are currently being considered by the Government’s Strategic Defence and Security Review team who will present their conclusions in due course.

Spratly Islands: Sovereignty

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions his Department has had on the Spratly Islands dispute with (a) claimants to those islands, (b) Five Power Defence Arrangements signatories and (c) the US; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Hugo Swire: Both the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), and I have discussed the situation in the South China Sea with the countries involved. Most recently the Foreign Secretray raised the issue with Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah on 3 June and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang on 10 June. The Foreign Secretary has also spoken about the situation with the US and other G7 partners. I have held similar discussions, including in Washington on 2 June. I refer my right hon. Friend to the Foreign Secretary’s comments to the House on 1 June 2015, Official Report, columns 312 to 314.

Spratly Islands

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with the Chinese government on land reclamation and construction activities in the Spratly Islands archipelago; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Hugo Swire: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), expressed our concerns about developments in the South China Sea, including over land reclamation and construction activities, when he met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang on 10 June. We will continue to make our concerns known. I refer my right hon. Friend to the Foreign Secretary’s comments to the House on 1 June 2015, Official Report, columns 312-314.

Northern Ireland Office

Low Pay: Northern Ireland

Harry Harpham: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps the Government is taking to tackle low pay in Northern Ireland.

Mrs Theresa Villiers: The Prime Minister announced in March 2015 that the National Minimum Wage will increase by 3% to a new rate of £6.70 per hour, effective from October 2015. This is the largest real-terms increase in the National Minimum Wage since 2006, and over 1.4 million of Britain’s lowest-paid workers are set to benefit.In the March 2015 Budget, the previous Coalition Government committed to raising the tax free personal allowance to £11,000 by 2017-18. This means that since 2010, 103,000 people in Northern Ireland will have been lifted out of income tax altogether by 2017-18, and 698,000 people will see an average real terms gain of £561.As the Conservative manifesto at the 2015 General Election made clear, this Government plans to go further. We will raise the personal allowance to £12,500. This means that by the end of this decade one million more people throughout the UK will be lifted out of tax, and anybody who works for 30 hours a week or more on the increased national minimum wage will pay no income tax at all. We will also pass a new law ensuring that the personal allowance rises in line with the national minimum wage.

Prince of Wales: Northern Ireland

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment she has made of the outcomes of the recent visit  by HRH the Prince of Wales to Northern Ireland.

Mrs Theresa Villiers: The first official joint visit by Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall to Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland was very successful. The visit highlighted the themes of peace and reconciliation, heritage, community, conservation and innovation, and emphasised the warm friendship that extends between the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

Attorney General

Prosecutions

Stephen Phillips: To ask the Attorney General, how  many criminal prosecutions were undertaken by the Crown Prosecution Service in each of the years 2010 to 2015.

Robert Buckland: The Crown Prosecution Service publishes its casework statistics on a financial year basis. The number of criminal prosecutions finalised between April 2010 and March 2015 are as follows:2010-20112011-20122012-20132013-20142014-2015Finalised Prosecutions958,834896,505806,458738,064664,493

Prosecutions

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Attorney General, how many letters of invitation to companies to enter negotiations for a deferred prosecution agreement the Serious Fraud Office has issued.

Robert Buckland: The Serious Fraud Office has issued its first letters of invitation but it would not be appropriate to confirm numbers.The process of reaching Deferred Prosecution Agreements (DPAs) happens in stages. Initial negotiations are confidential to encourage openness on the part of the company. Under the Criminal Procedure Rules, the Court determines whether any relevant hearings are heard in public or in private. Any DPA must be approved by a judge and publicised.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Antibiotics: Drug Resistance

Stephen McPartland: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department plans to take in response to the recommendations in the report of the Prime Minister's Anti-Microbial Resistance Review, published on 14 May 2015.

Joseph Johnson: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills supports research in these areas through the UK Research Councils, which support a broad portfolio of research addressing different aspects of the problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The Medical Research Council (MRC) is leading an initiative involving all seven of the Research Councils to tackle AMR on all fronts. Launched in June 2014, the AMR initiative will coordinate the work of medical researchers, biologists, engineers, vets, economists, social scientists, mathematicians and even designers, in a multi-pronged approach to address all aspects of the multi-faceted problem, drawing together a range of scientific expertise from the UK and abroad.In addition, the MRC established the AMR Funders’ Forum to encourage a coordinated approach to funding research. It brings together the Research Councils with health departments, government bodies and charities that either provide support for AMR research or have an interest in AMR. The Forum aims to provide a strategic overview of AMR research in the UK and to create a shared vision for the future of AMR research and its potential impact on policy and treatments.AMR is a global problem, which means that the work of the Research Councils in this area extends beyond the UK.Since 2012 the MRC has been involved in the EC-funded Joint Programming Initiative on Antimicrobial Resistance (JPIAMR), which is coordinating research in 19 European countries, plus Israel and Canada, to address AMR on a global scale. As part of this work, the MRC completed a mapping exercise to pull together all the research carried out in these countries over the last seven years. This will help us to identify gaps and opportunities for future AMR research.

Technology

Stephen McPartland: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that technology and knowledge generated through UK universities and research institutions using public funding is open access.

Joseph Johnson: The Government remains committed to open access to research publications in line with the recommendations of the 2012 Finch Group Report. Since Finch, the Government has provided £47m to support the transition to increased open access. A survey by the Publishers Association reported that within one year, as a result of UK policy, 70% of journals published open access immediately (‘Gold’) or included a Gold open access option, and 96% of journals had an embargo period of 24 months or less and 64% an embargo period of 12 months or less. Research Councils UK (RCUK) has published guidance agreed by all of the parties involved in the Finch process. A panel set up by RCUK published a review of implementation of open access on 26 March 2015 and RCUK will issue its response in the summer. A UK Open Access Co-ordination Group has been set up to inform and guide implementation, including publishers, funders, and other key interests. The Government recognises access to underlying research data as a complementary need to open access to research publications. We welcome the production of a Concordat on Open Data agreed across the research community, which will be published this summer.

Health: Research

Stephen McPartland: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department is taking to promote basic science research into (a) TB, (b) HIV/AIDS, (c) malaria and (d) other global health priorities.

Joseph Johnson: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills supports research in these areas through the UK Research Councils, which support a strong portfolio of research addressing different aspects of these diseases and global health priorities. Basic, clinical and translational research into pathogens implicated in human infectious diseases is primarily supported by the Medical Research Council (MRC). Much of the fundamental research in these areas is supported through the MRC’s infections portfolio. This provides the basis for further research funded through targeted support for translation and global health, to ensure that the findings from basic research are translated into practice and new treatments.A new UK Research and Development Vaccines Network has recently been announced, which will bring together the UK’s leaders in vaccine development and research to focus on the most serious global health threats. Up to £20m will be invested from the outset to focus on the most threatening diseases including Ebola, Lassa, Marburg and Crimean-Congo Fever.The UK, through the MRC and the Department for International Development, is a member of and contributes funding to the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP), which aims to accelerate the development of new or improved drugs, vaccines, microbicides and diagnostics against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other neglected diseases.In December 2014 the second phase of the partnership, EDCTP2, was launched with funding of over 1billion euros over the next 10 years from the European Union, the Participating States and third parties. Further information can be found at: http://www.edctp.org/

Health: Research

Stephen McPartland: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department is taking to encourage its EU counterparts to increase support for global health research and development.

Joseph Johnson: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills supports research in this area through the UK Research Councils, which fund a strong portfolio addressing global health.The Medical Research Council (MRC) currently leads the UK delegation for the Horizon 2020 Health, Demographic Change and Wellbeing Challenge. This involves inputting into and approving the content of Health Challenge calls, working in conjunction with representatives from other EU member states. Horizon 2020 is the current EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. It brings together European Commission research and innovation funding, including the Framework Programme for Research, the innovation related activities of the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology.The UK, through the MRC and the Department for International Development, is a member of and contributes funding to, the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP), which aims to accelerate the development of new or improved drugs, vaccines, microbicides and diagnostics against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other neglected diseases. In December 2014 the second phase of the partnership, EDCTP2, was launched, with funding of over 1billion euros over the next 10 years from the European Union, the Participating States and third parties. The General Assembly of the EDCTP is currently chaired by the MRC. Further information can be found at: http://www.edctp.org/

Arms Trade: Gulf States

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the value is of arms and defence equipment sold by bodies in the UK to (a) Saudi Arabia, (b) UAE and (c) Bahrain in each of the last five years.

Anna Soubry: I refer the hon. Member to information on the number and value of export licences we have granted. This data is available to view at: https://www.exportcontroldb.bis.gov.uk/sdb/fox/sdb/SDBHOME. UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) does collect information from private sector companies on what contracts defence companies win. This data is provided on a confidential basis and only published in aggregated format. The 2013 figures published in July 2014 can be viewed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/2013-defence-and-security-exports-figures-released.

Political Levy

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to the Answer of 4 March 2009, Official Report, column 1698W, how many and what proportion of members of each trade union in Great Britain with a political fund have opted out of the political levy, according to the most recent records held by the Certification Officer.

Nick Boles: The figures requested are in the following table:Union nameTotal number of union members contributing to General FundNumber of members contributing to the political FundNumbers of members who have completed an exemption notice and therefore do not contribute to the political fundNumbers of members who have completed an exemption notice as a percentage of total number of union members contributing to the General FundAssociated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen19,22616,5305793.0Association of Revenue and Customs2,4562,11334314.0Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union21,43820,44100.0Broadcasting Entertainment Cinematograph and Theatre Union23,77923,1351480.6Communication Workers Union201,875167,58523,91011.8Community31,52325,1315,98719.0Educational Institute of Scotland55,16546,3544,2167.6Energy and General Workers Union0000.0Fire Brigades Union41,27033,3436,86716.6GMB613,384588,66024,7244.0Musicians Union30,44627,2063,0029.9National Association of Colliery Overmen, Deputies and Shotfirers46635000.0National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Woman Teachers336,736257,37510.0National Union of Mineworkers2,8102,0431605.7National Union of Rail Maritime and Transport Workers77,54970,1192810.4National Union of Teachers388,052324,6352,2950.6POA32,76332,29540.0Prospect118,61791,0194,3703.7Public and Commercial Services Union262,819244,6996520.2Transport Salaried Staffs Association22,76220,1771,1985.3Union of Construction Allied Trades and Technicians84,37763,97712,82115.2Union of Shop Distributive and Allied Workers425,652406,09919,5534.6UNISON: The Public Service Union1,301,5001,213,166 (b)9,5930.7Unite the Union1,424,3031,015,42953,7763.8Unity4,1843,8892285.4University and College Union115,81895,44117,42215.0Total for the 26 unions with political funds which reported in this period 5,638,9704,791,211192,1303.4Total for the 28 unions with political funds which reported in the previous period5,746,1534,414,929307,6895.4 Notes: (a) The information in the table is derived from annual returns received during 2013-14, the majority which relate to the year ending December 2012. (b) The increase in the number of UNISON members contributing to the political fund over the number recorded in preceding years is attributable to the amended way of reporting members of the UNISON general political fund.

Engineering

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what plans his Department has to strengthen links between the engineering industry and universities providing degree courses in subjects relevant to engineering.

Joseph Johnson: My Department provides grant funding for the Royal Academy of Engineering to support initiatives that encourage collaboration between industry and university engineering departments, for example through the provision of Research Chairs. We invited the President of the Royal Academy of Engineering, Professor Dame Ann Dowling, to review how to strengthen research collaboration between business and universities. The review has met with an engaged response from both industry and universities and we look forward to its published recommendations in the coming weeks. I welcome the supply of students with degrees in subjects relevant to engineering. This year there has been a 6.5% increase in new students studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics at university, following an 8% rise in 2013. Employer engagement in higher education is also a matter for the engineering sector itself and I applaud the initiative shown by the engineering profession, in particular through the work of Education4Engineering and the Engineering Professors’ Council. Both Education4Engineering and the Engineering Professors’ Council have brought engineering employers and universities to work together in response to the Perkins Review of Engineering Skills, for example to improve the visibility of employers on campus to ensure that students are aware of the exciting opportunities available in the engineering sector.

Royal Mail

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate the Government made of the potential profit from the Government's holding in Royal Mail before the announcement of the sale of Royal Mail.

Anna Soubry: The sale price was dependent on market conditions, the prevailing share price and investors’ interest in buying the shares. Based on analysis from our independent financial adviser, the sale price achieved, 500p per share, represents value for money for the tax payer.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Cost Effectiveness

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to HM Treasury's press release, Chancellor announces £4.5 billion of measures to bring down debt, published on 4 June 2015, from which round of the Regional Growth Fund he plans to make savings; and whether these savings will come from monies allocated under the Regional Growth Fund but not drawn down.

Anna Soubry: £2.85 billion has been allocated under the Regional Growth Fund to date. The savings announced on 4 June arise where beneficiaries from RGF Rounds 1-5 had, by mutual agreement, not drawn down the full amount that was made available to them.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Cost Effectiveness

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to HM Treasury's press release, Chancellor announces £4.5 billion of measures to bring down debt, published on 4 June 2015, under what budgetary sub-heading savings will be made from (a) the Regional Growth Fund, (b) monies for energy-intensive industries, (c) budgets relating to further and higher education and (d) other programmes and budgets operated by his Department.

Anna Soubry: A significant proportion of the savings will be found through surrendering underspends, making efficiencies and reducing lower value spend. Priority areas for growth and productivity, will be protected.   The Department has agreed to make savings from the Regional Growth Fund (RGF) by releasing money that is not currently committed to any project or programme. Importantly, no money is being taken back from any company to deliver these savings and we expect the 470 projects and programmes the RGF has supported to continue as usual. The total amount of Government money invested in the RGF remains at £2.85 billion, which we expect to deliver 581,000 jobs and unlock £16 billion of private sector investment.   Regarding monies for energy-intensive industries: we had intended to extend eligibility for compensation to a small number of further sectors this year. However, as industry is still collating the data necessary in order for us to make our case to the European Commission to review their state aid guidelines, it will not be possible to provide relief this year. We have therefore identified the funds that had been intended to compensate these sectors, and it has been surrendered as a saving.   Officials in my Department are working with the appropriate funding bodies to determine how other savings can best be achieved in line with ministers’ priorities.   The underlying principles ensuring that students and young people continue to benefit from one of the best education systems in the world will continue.

Regional Growth Fund

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what plans he has for the Regional Growth Fund and Exceptional Regional Growth Fund after the completion of Round 6.

Anna Soubry: The Government is reviewing all spending as a part of the 2015 Spending Review. All decisions, including decisions on future spending for the Regional Growth Fund after Round 6 and the Exceptional Regional Growth Fund, will be taken as a part of this work.

Business: Advisory Services

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many vouchers have been issued but not yet redeemed under the Growth Vouchers scheme.

Anna Soubry: As of the 15 June 2015, there remain 7,183 issued growth vouchers that could still be redeemed by the final deadline of 30 June 2015.

Department for International Development

Developing Countries: Crimes of Violence

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she is taking to reduce violence against women in developing countries.

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she is taking to reduce violence against children in developing countries.

Justine Greening: I am proud of the leadership role that the UK has played on tackling violence against women and children world-wide, and it will continue to be a key priority for my Department. We have increased programmes that tackle violence against women and girls by over 60% in the past two years, and now support 103 programmes in 29 countries.  DFID works to prevent and respond to violence against children across a wide range of humanitarian and development programmes, from our flagship £35 million investment in ending female genital mutilation, to our support to the No Lost Generation Initiative, through which the UK is funding education and psychosocial support for Syrian children to protect them from violence, abuse and exploitation.

Palestinians: Overseas Aid

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what financial assistance her Department has given to the Palestinian Authority and its agencies in each of the last three years for which information is available.

Mr Desmond Swayne: The UK provided the Palestinian Authority (PA) with £24.4 million in financial year 2014/15, £43.4 million in 2013/14 (which included an additional core grant of £7.5m as the PA was facing a severe financial crisis) and £35.3 million in 2012/13. We provide technical and financial assistance to the PA to support our statebuilding objectives and to deliver public services in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Our total OPTs spend for these 3 years: 2012/13 – £87,685,103.932013/14 – £93,858,767.212014/15 – £83,404,099.83 = £264,947,970.97

Department for Education

Pupils: Holidays

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that pupils are not taken out of schools for holidays in term time.

Nick Gibb: We want schools to reduce their overall absence rates because evidence shows there is a link between regular school attendance and high levels of academic attainment [1]. In September 2013 we changed the law so that schools in England can only grant leave of absence in exceptional circumstances. The most recent figures show that almost 2.4 million fewer school days were missed because of term-time family holidays in the 2013/14 academic year, compared to the 2012/13 academic year.[1] http://tinyurl.com/nazrpd2

Schools: Capital Investment

Mr Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the workings of the Educational Funding Agency Regional Framework Agreement; and if she will change that Agreement to enable more local construction companies to bid for contracts.

Edward Timpson: We would not be able to deliver school buildings without the substantial involvement of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the country.  The regional framework is just one of a number of procurement routes used by the Education Funding Agency for the delivery of central programmes, for example the free schools programme uses a wide of variety of procurement routes, including local arrangements. In addition the vast majority of capital funding for schools is distributed directly to academies, local authorities and other responsible bodies who are free to select the procurement method which best suits their needs. The use of Education Funding Agency frameworks is not mandated and it continually reviews those frameworks and procurement methods to ensure SMEs and local businesses are not unduly excluded.

Children in Care

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what progress her Department has made on improving outcomes for looked after children by improving (a) the collection of data and (b) quality of care.

Edward Timpson: The educational attainment of looked after children has improved over recent years at key stages 2 and 4, absence and exclusion rates have fallen, and offending and substance misuse rates have also fallen. Latest statistics are published in the statistical first release 'Outcomes for children looked after by local authorities': https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/outcomes-for-children-looked-after-by-local-authorities. It is not possible to attribute these improvements to single factors such as data collection improvements.   The department, working with its key users and interested parties, is regularly making improvements to the annual looked after children data collection from local authorities. Through our work to provide timely and relevant transparency information, the department is striving to help drive local and national improvement in the outcomes for looked after children. For example, in 2014, for the first time, information was collected on the activity and accommodation of care leavers aged 19, 20 and 21 (previously it was just 19-year-olds), which enables a fuller understanding of the numbers of young people who are not in education, employment or training when they leave care. In 2016, in order to help understand the causes of placement instability, the department will begin to collect data on the reason for placement moves.   Significant progress has been made in recent years to improve the quality of care. The department has taken steps to streamline and strengthen the assessment and approval for foster carers and improve their recruitment and retention. The department has also taken steps to encourage social workers to give foster carers a more active role in day-to-day decisions. New qualifications requirements have been introduced to improve the level of skills for care workers and children’s homes. In April 2015, new quality standards regulations were introduced in order to improve the experience of children in residential care. These new quality standards can be found online here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/355577/Guide_to_the_children_s_homes_regulations.pdf   The department has invested £36 million over the last four years in developing, testing and embedding evidence based interventions for looked-after children and those on the edge of care or custody. Long-term foster care as a distinct placement type was introduced in April 2015 to ensure that long-term arrangements are planned, stable and made in the best interests of the child. The department is also funding a two-year programme, until March 2016, to develop more effective ways of supporting vulnerable children through the Innovation Programme.   We are committed to improving transitions from care. To that end we published a cross-departmental care leaver strategy in 2013 and a ‘one year on’ report in 2014 setting out the ways in which the strategy improved services for this group of young people.

Arts: Primary Education

Stephen McPartland: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to promote the creative curriculum in primary schools; and if she will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: We recognise that the arts form an integral part of a child’s education and believe strongly that every child should experience a high-quality arts and cultural education throughout their time at school. Music, and art and design are statutory subjects in the national curriculum and must be studied by all pupils in maintained primary schools from the age of five. In addition, for 2012-16, we have allocated over £470 million to a diverse range of music and arts education programmes that are designed to improve access to the arts and culture for all children, regardless of their background, and to develop talent across the country.These programmes include support for 123 music education hubs, which are charged with ensuring that every child sings and learns to play a musical instrument, the Shakespeare Schools Festival, and programmes designed to encourage more primary school pupils to visit museums and to understand their local heritage.

Adoption

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 4 June 2015 to Question 214, whether collaboration between her Department and the Department of Health has given rise to any measure intended to ensure that adoption is presented as an option to women with unwanted pregnancies; and if she will make a statement.

Edward Timpson: The Department for Education and the Department of Health are not taking forward any work to present adoption as an option to women with unwanted pregnancies. However, the NHS website offers advice for women on unwanted pregnancies, including reference to the option of considering adoption for the baby. More information can be found online at: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Abortion/Pages/When-should-it-be-done.aspx

Adoption

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 4 June 2015 to Question 215, whether her Department has made an assessment of the current level of unmet demand for adoption of children under the age of one in England and Wales; whether her Department plans such an assessment; and if the Minister will make a statement.

Edward Timpson: The Department for Education has no plans to assess the current level of unmet demand for adoption of children under the age of one in England and Wales. However, the First4Adoption website does include ‘adoption maps’ which help to identify where there is unmet demand. First4Adoption reports the numbers of children waiting to be placed across the country and breaks this down to a local authority level: http://www.first4adoption.org.uk/adoption-maps/

Young People: Racial Discrimination

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to prevent young people in schools and colleges from developing racist mindsets.

Edward Timpson: All schools are subject to the Equality Act 2010, and are required to promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect for and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. This includes challenging prejudices or statements which counter British values. All state-funded schools are required to promote community cohesion, and the national curriculum for citizenship supports teachers to inform pupils about the diverse range of identities in the United Kingdom, and the importance of respecting others.

Health Education: Obesity

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her policy is on using the school curriculum as a means of educating young people about the effects of unhealthy eating and obesity.

Edward Timpson: The government supports a whole school approach to educating young people about the effects of unhealthy eating and obesity.   Both the science and PE curriculum, which are compulsory subjects in primary and secondary schools, recognise the importance of pupils being taught about healthy lifestyles. Diet, nutrition and exercise are covered in the new science curriculum, including at secondary school lessons about the consequences of imbalances in the diet, including obesity. The new PE curriculum aims to support pupils to lead healthy and active lives by enabling them to understand and apply the long term health benefits of physical activity. In secondary schools, food education is now compulsory in years 7-9 for the first time and equips children with knowledge about healthy eating.   Encouraging children to lead healthy and active lives is a key aim of the new PE curriculum which will enable pupils to develop the confidence and interest to get involved in exercise, sports and activities out of schools and in later life, and understand and apply the long term health benefits of physical activity.

Schools: Sports

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to increase the female uptake of in-school sporting activities.

Edward Timpson: The Department for Education has committed to support primary school sport with £150 million a year, paid directly to head-teachers, until 2020. The previous government provided over £300 million of cross-government ring-fenced funding for academic years 2013/14 and 2014/15, to improve PE and sport.   The department is evaluating the impact of the funding and schools’ use of the premium through the independent research company, NatCen. The interim report will be published in the autumn 2015 and is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pe-and-sport-premium-an-investigation-in-primary-schools   The department has been working with Sport England to promote the hugely successful ‘This Girl Can’ campaign that has received worldwide media coverage and promotes the female participation in sport. The department has promoted the resources produced by the Association for Physical Education in order to help schools deliver fun and informative sessions to increase female uptake of sporting activities.   Improvement in the provision of sport in primary school is supported across government and external activity in a range of areas, from health to physical activity and from initial teacher training to encouraging pupils to try new sports.This includes Sport England’s £49 million programme funding satellite clubs to create new opportunities for young people to create lifelong sporting habits. Satellite clubs are based on school or college sites and create outposts of existing community sports clubs. By 2017, every secondary school in England will have been offered the opportunity to host a satellite club on its site, with the aim of creating 5,000 clubs. In total 11,000 girls have gone through satellite clubs.   The Sainsbury’s School Games is the government’s framework for competitive school sport. The school games are delivered through Department for Culture Media and Sport, who have overall policy leadership, and Department of Health. The games have been extremely successful in engaging girls. At level 3 (county level), 52% of the competitors are girls. This is the only youth programme that has a higher rate of female participation than male.

Adoption

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of schemes that seek to put couples who have been unsuccessful in fertility treatment in touch with local adoption services; and whether the Government supports such schemes.

Edward Timpson: The Department for Education does not currently fund schemes that seek to put couples who have been unsuccessful in fertility treatment in touch with local adoption services. However, the department funds the First4Adoption service which is the national information service for adoption in England. Last year the department and First4Adoption worked closely together to develop promotional resources to reach out to anyone interested in adoption. These resources are available, free of charge, to be used by all local agencies and regional consortia in their work to promote adoption. The department also works with the British Association for Adoption and Fostering on National Adoption Week, taking place on 19-26 October 2015.

Pupils: Batten Disease

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what representations she has received from parents or representatives of pupils with Batten disease; and if she will make a statement.

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance her Department has published for schools and local authorities on supporting pupils with terminal or degenerative medical conditions.

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of special needs support for pupils with Batten disease.

Edward Timpson: The Department for Education has received no representations from parents or representatives of pupils with Batten disease.   Section 100 of the Children and Families Act 2014 introduced a new duty to support pupils at school with medical conditions and to have regard to statutory guidance. It applies to governing bodies of maintained schools, proprietors of academies (excluding 16–19 academies) and management committees of pupil referral units. The statutory guidance, published in September 2014, can be found online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/supporting-pupils-at-school-with-medical-conditions--3   The guidance covers a range of areas including the preparation and implementation of school policies for supporting pupils with medical conditions, the use of individual healthcare plans, staff training, administration of medicines, consulting with parents and collaborative working with healthcare professionals.   Local authorities have a duty to arrange education for children of compulsory school age who would not receive suitable education for any reason, including illness. In carrying out this duty, the department has issued statutory guidance to which local authorities must refer: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/alternative-provision   Guidance on identifying and supporting children and young people with special educational needs (SEN) is given in the SEN and Disability Code of Practice: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-code-of-practice-0-to-25   Schools have a statutory duty to use their best endeavours to ensure that children with special educational needs get the help they need. Even where a child does not have a Statement of SEN or an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, schools still have legal duties to meet pupils’ special educational needs. Where a pupil is identified as having special educational needs, schools should take action to remove barriers to learning and put effective provision in place. In addition, the Children and Families Act 2014 places a legal duty on schools to have in place arrangements to support children with health conditions.

Adoption

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to make the adoption process simpler and more straightforward.

Edward Timpson: The adopter approvals process was reformed in 2013 to ensure that prospective adopters could be assessed and approved more quickly. Most approvals should now take place within six months. The new assessment process is just as rigorous as its predecessor but is structured to ensure swift and appropriate progress.   The Department for Education has ensured that there has been continued improvement in opportunities to support matching children to adopters. This includes the work of the National Adoption Register service, and the provision of exchange days and adoption activity days. These services ensure that children who are not able to be placed locally are given the opportunity to be placed with unmatched adopters across the country. We have also been working to support and challenge social workers to help them accelerate the matching process by avoiding unnecessary delays.   Since 2010, a number of adoption support reforms have been introduced so that families can be confident that support will be provided if needed. These include: placing responsibility on local authorities to inform prospective adopters and adopters of their rights to assessments of need and entitlements to other adoption support services; improving access to specialist therapeutic services through the Adoption Support Fund; extending entitlements on priority school admissions, access to pupil premium and reforming adoption pay and leave.

Adoption

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she intends to take to raise awareness of the possibility of adoption for (a) people who may be eligible to become adoptive parents and (b) women in unplanned pregnancy who do not wish to raise a child themselves.

Edward Timpson: The Department for Education funds the First4Adoption service which is the national information service for adoption in England. The department has also provided £17 million in additional funding over 2013-16 to help voluntary adoption agencies recruit and approve more adopters, including those who can meet the needs of children who are harder to place, and address sector-wide issues with regard to the recruitment of adopters. The department has provided local authorities with £200 million over 2014-16 to support adoption reform on the ground and improve the recruitment of adopters. Last year the department and First4Adoption worked closely together in developing promotional resources in order to reach out to anyone interested in adoption. These resources are available, free of charge, to be used by all local agencies and regional consortia in their work to promote adoption. The department also works with the British Association for Adoption and Fostering on National Adoption Week, taking place 19-26 October 2015.

Children: Day Care

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether it is her policy that families with parents in full-time further education will be eligible for 30 hours a week free childcare under the Government's new childcare proposals.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The additional hours will be available to families where both parents are working, or the sole parent is working in a lone parent family. Further information on the detail of which parents will qualify will be announced in due course.   Parents who are in full time education are already able to access help with the costs of childcare. Full-time higher education students with children can apply for a Childcare Grant of: up to £150.23 a week for 1 child;up to £257.55 a week for 2 or more children.   The grant helps with childcare costs for children under-15, or under-17 if they have special educational needs.   Parents must be eligible for student finance to apply for a Childcare Grant. More information on the Childcare Grant can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/childcare-grant/overview

Children: Day Care

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the potential cost of the introduction of 30 hours a week free childcare.

Mr Sam Gyimah: As I announced on Monday 15 June 2015, the department will be conducting a review of the cost of providing childcare. This will inform the cost of the new childcare entitlement of 30 hours for working families, which will be considered as part of the Budget and Spending Review process.

Children: Disability

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to include provisions in the Childcare Bill for extra funding for children currently in receipt of disability living allowance for children or enhanced child tax credits as a consequence of a disability.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The government is absolutely committed to supporting families with disabled children. We want every eligible parent that wants to take advantage of the new entitlement to be able to. That includes parents of children with disabilities, and therefore we will of course consider issues of funding and accessibility for those children.   The first part of this is our cross-government review of the cost of providing childcare, which will include a consideration of the costs for children with additional needs. A call for evidence to inform the review was launched on 15 June and will close on 10 August 2015.  The call for evidence is available here: www.gov.uk/government/consultations/cost-of-providing-childcare-review-call-for-evidence

Children: Day Care

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what eligibility provisions she plans to propose for children of families in which parents live apart or with different legal partners to be entitled to 30 hours a week free childcare under the Government's childcare proposals.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The additional hours will be available to families where both parents are working or the sole parent is working in a lone parent family. More detail will be available in due course.

Pupils: Mental Health Services

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much her Department has spent on mental health services for school students in (a) York Central constituency and (b) England in each of the last five years.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The Department for Education does not specially allocate funding to mental health services. Local Authorities may choose to use some of the funding allocated to them in this way but that is not the subject of data collection.   It is a priority for us to support schools and other settings in how best to help pupils succeed through the development of character, resilience and good mental health. We are providing nearly £5m in funding this year to a number of voluntary and community sector projects supporting the mental health needs of children and young people, as well as supporting Childline, which provides a free 24-hour, UK wide counselling service supporting young people with issues causing distress or concern, including suicidal feelings.   We also funded the Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) Association to produce guidance to improve teaching about mental health in PSHE in March 2015. More information can be found online here: https://www.pshe-association.org.uk/news_detail.aspx?ID=1435 In June 2014 we issued advice on mental health and behaviour which clarifies the responsibility of the school, points to tools that can be used to help them identify pupils that may be experiencing a mental health problem and outlines what they can do to provide a stable environment that builds good mental health in all pupils. This advice can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mental-health-and-behaviour-in-schools--2   We are working with Department of Health and NHS England to develop a pilot to train mental health leads in schools and specialist Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services.

Schools: Finance

James Cartlidge: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the need for changing the formula by which spending is determined in English schools.

Mr Sam Gyimah: School funding is based on historic data, which often means that it does not reflect current pupils’ needs. It is unfair that a school in one part of the country can attract over 50% more funding than an identical school elsewhere in the country. In 2015-16 an additional £390 million was given to local authorities considered to have been unfairly funded for schools in previous years. This was a significant step towards fairer funding; we are committed to making further progress.

Vocational Guidance

Mike Kane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure equal access to all-age careers guidance services across the UK.

Mr Sam Gyimah: Policy for education, including careers guidance, is devolved within the UK. The response below relates only to policy in England. The government’s policy on careers guidance aims to ensure that people of all ages can access high quality support when they need it. Schools and colleges in England have a legal responsibility to secure independent careers guidance for all 12- to- 18-year-olds. This must include information on the full range of education or training options, including apprenticeships. The National Careers Service was launched in April 2012 and provides professional and impartial careers information, advice and guidance to adults and young people aged 13 and over to support their decision making about learning and work. Support is available to adults and young people via a website, web chat or National Contact Centre helpline. The service also offers face to face help for adults over 19 (18 if in receipt of out of work benefits). The National Careers Service users satisfaction and progression survey shows that 94% of face-to-face and telephone customers agreed that the overall quality of the service was good. The survey report is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-careers-service-satisfaction-and-progression-surveys-2013-to-2014-report From October 2014, we enhanced the role of the National Careers Service. National Careers Service contractors now have a responsibility to work with schools and colleges to facilitate relationships with local employers. They will work closely with the new Careers and Enterprise Company, whose core purpose is to take a lead role in transforming the provision of careers, enterprise and employer engagement experiences for young people to inspire them to take control of and shape their own futures.

Secondary Education: Finance

Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to review secondary school funding formulae in (a) Peterborough and (b) England; and if she will make a statement.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The previous government took the first step in reforming school funding by allocating an additional £390 million in 2015-16 to the local authorities that it considered to have been unfairly funded in previous years. 69 local authorities benefitted from this additional funding, including Peterborough, which received an additional £860,000. As we pledged in our manifesto, we will build on these reforms and make schools funding fairer across the country for both primary and secondary schools.

Children: Day Care

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, by what process the Government plans to run a consultation with the childcare sector on the provision of 30 hours a week free childcare.

Mr Sam Gyimah: We recognise it is essential that we talk to parents and providers about the new entitlement. We have already launched a call for evidence to inform our review of the cost of providing childcare (https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/cost-of-providing-childcare-review-call-for-evidence). Further information about our plans will be made available in due course.

Academies

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent representations she has received on projected budget deficits in academies.

Edward Timpson: We expect academy trusts to manage their finances appropriately and in accordance with their funding agreement. The Department for Education and Education Funding Agency have considered a range of representations, including from academy trusts, on projected budget deficits in academies. Where appropriate, support will be provided.

Ministry of Justice

Ministry of Justice: Cost Effectiveness

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the HM Treasury press release, Chancellor announces £4.5 billion of measures to bring down debt, published on 4 June 2015, what efficiency savings his Department plans to make to achieve reductions of £249 million in its budget.

Andrew Selous: Following the Chancellor’s request to find additional in-year savings, we have put together a package that will enable us to drive efficiencies across the department. These savings will reduce the cost of justice to the taxpayer whilst creating a justice system that reflects the needs of its users.

Human Rights Act 1998

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2015 to Question 368, whether the Government plans to seek the consent of the (a) Scottish Parliament, (b) Welsh Assembly and (c) Northern Ireland Assembly before bringing forward legislative proposals to repeal the Human Rights Act 1998.

Dominic Raab: We will consider the implications of a Bill of Rights on devolution as we develop our proposals. We will, of course, fully engage with the devolved administrations.

Prisons: Drugs

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2015 to Question 92, which prisons recorded no positive random drug test results in all months in 2014-15.

Andrew Selous: The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) has a comprehensive drug strategy for prisons, which includes elements to both reduce the demand and supply of drugs in prisons. The success of the strategy is illustrated by the reduction of drug misuse in prisons, as measured by the random Mandatory Drug Testing (MDT) programme, which has declined by 17.5 percentage points over the past 17 years, despite the fact that NOMS is testing for more drugs than previously. Positive rates were 7.8% in 2009/2010 and 6.9% in 2014/2015. The majority of prisons in England and Wales reported drug free months in the last year; however a single episode of drug misuse over a defined period would deprive a prison of drug free status. Prisons can perform very well in keeping drugs out of prison but technically not be drug free. One prison, Blantyre House, reported no positive random drug tests in every month over the period 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2015.

Unpaid Fines: Nottinghamshire

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much in outstanding fines there were at courts in Nottinghamshire on (a) 31 March and (b) the last date for which figures are available.

Mr Shailesh Vara: This Government takes recovery and enforcement of financial impositions very seriously and remains committed to finding new ways to ensure impositions are paid and to trace those who do not pay. This is why there has been a year on year increase in the total amount of financial penalties collected over the last three years. The amount of money collected has risen from £259m at the end of 2009/10 to an all time high of £290 million at the end of 2013/14 and collections continue to rise. In 2013/14 the total outstanding balance of financial impositions reduced by £26.7m (5%) in the year. The table below shows the value of financial impositions outstanding as at the end of December 2014 in Nottinghamshire. The figures for the 2014/15 financial year will be available on 25 June 2015. The outstanding balance figure includes the value of accounts that were not due to be paid by the end of the period specified (either because they were imposed close to the end of the year or because they had payment timescales set by the courts for beyond the end of the year) and those that were being paid by instalments on agreed payment plans. This figure include fines, compensation orders, victim surcharge orders and prosecution costs orders. AreaOutstanding balance as at end of December 2014Nottinghamshire£7,610,378

Secure Colleges

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he expects construction to begin on the proposed Secure College.

Andrew Selous: The Coalition government legislated for secure colleges and we are now considering the next steps. We remain clear that education should be at the very heart of youth custody.

Prime Minister

Disclosure of Information

Mr David Davis: To ask the Prime Minister, if he will declassify and publish the recent report, produced by Sir Nigel Sheinwald on data sharing.

Mr David Cameron: I appointed Sir Nigel Sheinwald as my Special Envoy to engage with Communication Service Providers and other Governments to identify ways of improving intelligence and law enforcement data sharing between different jurisdictions. Sir Nigel has provided me with regular advice on his progress, and the Government will feed this into the work we are taking forward around investigatory powers, following David Anderson QC's recent report.

Ministry of Defence

Ukraine: Tanks

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether Saxon battle tanks sent to Ukraine are all fully effective and have the speed and agility of a similar Russian tank.

Mr Philip Dunne: The Saxon is not a Main Battle Tank, and it would not be appropriate to compare one with the other. The Saxon is a wheeled armoured personnel carrier designed to offer protected mobility in a combat zone. It possesses none of the characteristics or capabilities normally associated with a main battle tank.

Armed Forces: Human Rights

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his policy is on ensuring that service personnel do not infringe the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights in the discharge of their duties.

Mr Julian Brazier: The European Convention on Human Rights is incorporated into UK law. The UK Government acts in accordance with domestic and international law at all times and Ministry of Defence policy is assessed to ensure it complies with it.The UK Armed Forces provide Law of Armed Conflict training to all Service personnel. This includes instruction during initial basic training phases, staff and promotion courses, and mission specific pre-deployment training for operations.When assisting other States, the Department applies cross-Government policies designed to protect human rights: such as the Overseas Justice and Security Assistance assessment and the Cabinet Office Consolidated Guidance on intelligence sharing.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the communications system supporting UK Reapers utilises the US Predator Primary Satellite Link and relay station at Ramstein airbase, Germany.

Penny Mordaunt: I am withholding the information, as disclosure would or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces and relations between the United Kingdom and other states.

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what alternatives his Department has considered should the F-35 be considerably delayed beyond 2020.

Mr Philip Dunne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 8 September 2014, (Official Report, column 491-492W), to the hon. Member for Romford (Mr Rosindell).



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Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent estimate his Department has made of an in-service date for the F-35B fast jet aircraft.

Mr Philip Dunne: The in-service date for the F-35B forecast in the NAO Major Projects Report 2014 is December 2018.

Military Aircraft

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans his Department has to lease Poseidon aircraft to serve a maritime reconnaissance function.

Mr Philip Dunne: As part of the Strategic Defence and Security Review, the Department is examining the requirement for any maritime patrol aircraft.

Military Aircraft

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what projection his Department has made of the number of fast jets that will be in-service in 2019-20.

Mr Philip Dunne: The Strategic Defence and Security Review 2010 said that, by the 2020s, RAF fast jets would be based around a fleet of two of the most capable fighter jets anywhere in the world: a modernised Typhoon and the Joint Strike Fighter. The Government will continue to examine all options for RAF fast jet capabilities to ensure they remain at the forefront of delivering Defence requirements.

Nuclear Weapons

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure that the UK's nuclear capabilities are sufficient to meet the deterrence requirements.

Mr Philip Dunne: The Government takes its responsibilities for maintaining a credible nuclear deterrent extremely seriously and continually conducts assessments to ensure that the credibility and standards for safety, security and operational effectiveness are met. It would not be appropriate to comment on any further details as this could allow conclusions to be drawn on the UK's capabilities.

Reserve Forces

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will establish an independent civilian armed forces inspectorate.

Mark Lancaster: It is unclear what the hon. Member is proposing. Specific areas of the Armed Forces are already subject to independent assessment by relevant inspectorates, including Ofsted and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabularies.

Armed Forces: Training

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the costs of training cadets from outside the UK have been at each officer training establishment in each of the last five years.

Mark Lancaster: International defence training is an important part of our international defence engagement strategy, which seeks to use our national capabilities to extend the influence of the UK in the world. The table below sets out the figures for UK-funded students undertaking initial officer training:Financial Year Britannia Royal Naval College (Datmouth) £000 Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (Lympstone) £000Royal Military Academy (Sandhurst) £000 Royal Air Force College (Cranwell) £0002010-1152001,3831782011-12378601,5652322012-138681181,9843122013-149861182,1453942014-1599002,416550

Royal Military Academy

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the value is of the estate of HMA Sandhurst.

Mark Lancaster: The Ministry of Defence does not have a valuation for the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.However, as and when a site is declared surplus, a valuation is obtained. This is not released as to do so would prejudice the market.

Armed Forces: Languages

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) military and (b) civilian staff in his Department are proficient in (i) Arabic, (ii) Persian, (iii) Turkish, (iv) Berber, (v) Kurdish, (vi) Polish and (vii) Russian.

Mark Lancaster: The numbers of personnel in the military and civil service in the Ministry of Defence who are proficient in Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Berber, Kurdish, Polish and Russian is as follows:  LanguageTotal militaryTotal MOD Civil ServantsArabic175145Persian/Farsi48Not capturedTurkish135Berber0Not capturedKurdish02Polish945Russian25146

Malaysia: Military Alliances

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Five Power Defence Arrangements cover the defence of Malaysia's exclusive economic zone; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Julian Brazier: Under the Five Powers Defence Arrangements, the five powers (Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore and the UK) are to consult each other "immediately" in the event or threat of an armed attack on Malaysia or Singapore for the purpose of deciding what measures should be taken jointly or separately in response. There is no specific commitment to intervene militarily. The Five Powers Defence Arrangements do not refer to exclusive economic zones (EEZ) and the enforcement of a state's EEZ rights is a matter for that state; a state may request the assistance of other states in so doing.

Department for Work and Pensions

Employment: Disability

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the disability employment gap was on 8 May 2015; and what methodology is used in calculating that gap.

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the disability employment gap was for people who (a) are deaf, (b) have a vision impairment and (c) are deafblind on the latest date for which figures are available.

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people whose Access to Work awards currently exceed the proposed limit on those awards are deafblind.

Justin Tomlinson: The disability employment rate gap is the difference between the employment rate of disabled people and the employment rate of non-disabled people. One way to measure the gap is using the Labour Force Survey (LFS). The latest data available from the LFS relates to January 2015 to March 2015. The latest LFS figures are set out in the table below. This table shows the disability employment rate gap along with the disability employment rate gaps for people who have difficulty in hearing and those who have difficulty in seeing. Data on those who are deafblind is not collected on the Labour Force Survey.  Main health conditionEmployment rateEmployment rate gapAll working age people who are not classified as Equality Act core disabled and/or work-limiting disabled (excluding those who did not state their health situation)79.3%n/aAll working age3 disabled people446.3%32.9%Working age disabled people4 who report their main health problem as difficulty in seeing45.7%33.5%Working age disabled people4 who report their main health problem as difficulty in hearing64.9%14.3%Working age disabled people4 who report their main health problem as being deafblind5n/an/a  Notes:1 Estimates were obtained from the latest Labour Force Survey (LFS) and relate to January 2015 to March 2015.2 Percentages are rounded to one decimal place.3 Men and women aged 16-64.4 In April 2013, changes were made to the wording of the disability questions in order to bring the LFS into line with the Government Statistical Service (GSS) Harmonised Standards for questions on disability and also enable the LFS estimates to be consistent with the definitions used in 2010 Equality Act. As with all new questions, they are subject to ONS monitoring of responses for several quarters, and should therefore be interpreted with caution. Due to the definitional changes, these estimates cannot be compared with estimates for previous years which were based on a definition relating to the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).5 This data is not collected. Deafblind is not listed as a main disabling condition either on LFS,  It is not possible to say how many people whose Access to Work awards currently exceed the proposed limit on those awards are deafblind as there is nowhere to record deafblind specifically on the Access to Work computer system (DISC).From December 2014, all deafblind cases are administered by the Visually Impaired specialist team. And therefore should be recorded under the Visual Impairments category for Access to Work allocation purposes.

Access to Work Programme

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he plans to take to monitor the effect of the limit on Access to Work awards on recipients from when that limit is introduced.

Justin Tomlinson: We intend to monitor the cases of new users at their annual review points. We will also make use of the annual review process to monitor the progress of existing users prior to their cap implementation date of April 2018.

Social Security Benefits: Batten Disease

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what representations he has received from people with Batten disease or their representatives; and if he will make a statement.

Justin Tomlinson: We have interpreted the question to mean how much correspondence the department has received relating to Battens Disease. The department does not record correspondence received by nature of Disease and so is unable to provide this information.

Social Security Benefits

Dr Paul Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effect of the two year freeze on benefit levels on (a) young adults, (b) pregnant women, (c) couples with children, (d) formerly looked after children, (e) veterans and (f) disabled people; and what estimate he has made of the real terms effect on the levels of each type of benefit of that freeze.

Priti Patel: The Government takes into account likely impacts as part of its policy development process and will publish an impact assessment in due course.

Housing Benefit: Social Rented Housing

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what information his Department holds on how many people have commenced paying the under-occupancy penalty following the death of (a) a spouse, civil partner or partner, (b) sibling, (c) parent and (d) child.

Justin Tomlinson: This type of information is not collected. With regards to the removal of the spare room subsidy a 12 month grace period exists which allows people the time to adjust to bereavement.

Children: Poverty

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions he has had with the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission on the Government's progress on the poverty reduction targets set out in the Child Poverty Act 2010.

Priti Patel: The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions met periodically with the Chair of the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission over the course of the last Parliament. As yet, there have been no discussions in this Parliament.

Children: Poverty

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress his Department has made towards meeting the 2020 poverty reduction targets set out in the Child Poverty Act 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Priti Patel: This Government is committed to driving real change in children’s lives, by tackling the root causes of poverty such as entrenched worklessness, family breakdown, problem debt, and drug and alcohol dependency. There are 300,000 fewer children living in relative poverty since 2010. We know that work is the best route out of poverty and the number of children growing up in workless families is at a record low. As a result of the introduction of Universal Credit, we estimate around 3.2 million households across the UK will be better off and up to 300,000 more people will enter work due to improved financial incentives. We are doubling the amount of free childcare to 30 hours of childcare for working parents of 3 and 4 year olds, making it easier for them to go back to work.

Housing Benefit: Islington

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many jobseeker's allowance claimants aged 18 to 21 years in (a) the London Borough of Islington and (b) Islington South and Finsbury constituency are in receipt of housing benefit.

Justin Tomlinson: The information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. The information that is available refers to Housing Benefit (HB) recipients whose claim is passported, that is for those who receive income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance. This information including HB recipients by age and number of children can be found at:https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.ukGuidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started---SuperWEB2.html

Housing Benefit: Islington

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many jobseeker's allowance claimants aged 18 to 21 years in (a) the London Borough of Islington and (b) Islington South and Finsbury constituency who are currently in receipt of housing benefit have children.

Justin Tomlinson: The information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. The information that is available refers to Housing Benefit (HB) recipients whose claim is passported, that is for those who receive income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance. This information including HB recipients by age and number of children can be found at:https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.ukGuidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started---SuperWEB2.html

Social Security Benefits

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will (a) remove the two-week waiting period for non-vulnerable people to receive a hardship payment and (b) suspend sanctions for claimants with children and claimants with mental ill health.

Priti Patel: In respect of (a), I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 9 June 2015 to Question UIN 1243 In respect of (b), I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 5 June 2015 to Question UIN 176

Social Security Benefits

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the findings of the report by UK Churches, Time to Rethink Benefit Sanctions, published in March 2015, on waiting periods for hardship payments and sanctions on claimants with children and for claimants with mental ill health.

Priti Patel: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 5 June 2015 to Question UIN 170

Incapacity Benefit

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the projected cost is of his Department's appeal relating to the Information Commissioner's decision on his Department's report entitled Incapacity Benefits: Deaths of Claimants.

Justin Tomlinson: The Department is only able to provide an estimate for the costs of its ligation solicitors and Counsel. At present, these costs have been estimated at between £3,600 to £6,000 inclusive of VAT (£3,000 to £5,000 excluding VAT).

Housing Benefit: Southwark

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many households with one or more person employed in the London Borough of Southwark claim housing benefit.

Justin Tomlinson: The information as requested is not available. The Information for those in work is only available for Housing Benefit (HB) recipients whose claim is not passported: that is for those who do not receive either income support, Jobseeker’s Allowance (Income-Based), Employment and Support Allowance (Income-Based), or Pension Credit (Guaranteed Credit). This information can be found at: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.ukGuidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started---SuperWEB2.html

Social Security Benefits: Southwark

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many (a) single parent households, (b) households with dependent children, (c) households with a disabled member, (d) pensioner households and (e) households with one or more person employed in the London Borough of Southwark are subject to the benefit cap.

Justin Tomlinson: Benefit cap statistics for February 2015, published in May 2015 (the latest available information) can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/benefit-cap-number-of-households-capped-to-february-2015 The number of households subject to the benefit cap in the London Borough of Southwark in February, was 210. Of those households:a) 160 were single parent households.b) 200 households had dependent children.c) Households with someone in receipt of the following disability related benefits are exempt from the cap - Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance and its replacement Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Employment and Support Allowance where the support component has been awarded, Industrial Injuries Benefits (IIB), Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) (Guaranteed Income Payments) and, before 6 April 2005, the War Pension Scheme (WPS) (this includes war widow's/widower's pension and war disablement pension).d) None. The benefit cap applies to working-age households.e) Households with one or more persons employed and entitled to Working Tax Credit are exempt from the cap.

Social Security Benefits: Southwark

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many households in the London Borough of Southwark have been subject to the benefit cap.

Justin Tomlinson: The number of households that have been subject to the benefit cap from its introduction on 15 April 2013, until February 2015, the latest available information, in the Local Authority of Southwark is 450. The data has been taken from Stat-Xplore, the Department’s online interactive tabulation tool, which can be accessed here:https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/

Children: Poverty

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure that the Government meets its commitment to eradicate child poverty by 2020.

Priti Patel: This Government is committed to driving real change in children’s lives, by tackling the root causes of poverty such as entrenched worklessness, family breakdown, problem debt, and drug and alcohol dependency. There are 300,000 fewer children living in relative poverty since 2010. We know that work is the best route out of poverty and the number of children growing up in workless families is at a record low. As a result of the introduction of Universal Credit, we estimate around 3.2 million households across the UK will be better off and up to 300,000 more people will enter work due to improved financial incentives. We are doubling the amount of free childcare to 30 hours of childcare for working parents of 3 and 4 year olds, making it easier for them to go back to work.

Jobcentre Plus

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Jobcentre Plus staff have received training in careers advice and guidance since May 2010.

Priti Patel: All Jobcentre Plus staff have access to a comprehensive and progressive learning programme designed to build the core skills and knowledge essential to the role. This learning encompasses the wide range of circumstances that our claimants may have, some less obvious than others, and stresses how important it is to treat people as individuals. Specific features of the learning include the skills required to coach claimants in navigating what is required to find, gain and sustain employment, in an increasingly digital environment. Work Coaches in particular are trained to have an understanding of local labour market information, using various tools to support claimants into work and training. Work Coaches can also signpost claimants to the National Careers Service, Careers Scotland and Careers Wales as required.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Insects

Mrs Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the efficacy of the national pollinator strategy in protecting the bee population; and whether it is her policy that the ban on harmful pesticides will remain.

George Eustice: The National Pollinator Strategy is a 10 year plan which sets out a framework for collective action to protect pollinators on farmland, towns, cities and the countryside, and to enhance the response to pests and disease risk. The Strategy also seeks to raise awareness of what pollinators need to thrive through a call to action message. (www.wildlifetrusts.org/Bees-needs).As set out in the Strategy, our work over the next five years to develop the evidence base will allow us to identify pollinator trends with greater certainty, so that we can assess progress with our outcomes and identify where further action should be taken. An important component of the strategy is the creation of high quality habitats for pollinators. The strategy builds upon Biodiversity 2020, under which we have placed 67,000 hectares under management for creation of new priority habitat, bringing benefits including to pollinators by providing them with food, shelter and nest sites.Neonicotinoids are a group of chemicals used as active substances in pesticides. Decisions on the approval of pesticide active substances are made at EU level. Since December 2013, three of the five currently approved neonicotinoids are not permitted for use on a wide range of crops considered “attractive to bees”. A number of other uses remain permitted under the EU approval. The UK has implemented the restrictions in full. These restrictions remain in place until and unless the European Commission decides to change them.

Insects

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how frequently her Department plans to update the National Pollinator Strategy.

George Eustice: The National Pollinator Strategy is a 10 year plan which sets out a framework for collective action to protect pollinators on farmland, towns, cities and the countryside, and to enhance the response to pests and disease risk. The Strategy also seeks to raise awareness of what pollinators need to thrive through a call to action message which sets out five simple actions that everyone can take to support pollinators (www.wildlifetrusts.org/Bees-needs).The Strategy is an important starting point and must be flexible, adapting to new data and understanding as this emerges. We will keep the Strategy under review, refreshing the aims by 2019 and identifying any necessary targets and additional policies to strengthen our response based on an improved understanding of the baselines, the impact of pressures and the role of pollinators. The review will also consider lessons learned from the initial policy actions and partnership working. We will coordinate the production of a one year progress report with key partners on implementation of the Strategy later this year.

Dairy Farming: Cumbria

John Stevenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many dairy farms there were in (a) Carlisle constituency and (b) Cumbria in (i) 2012, (ii) 2013 and (iii) 2014.

George Eustice: The numbers of dairy farms in Carlisle constituency and Cumbria in 2012 to 2014 are shown below.   Also shown are the numbers of dairy cows on these, to help put the figures into context.Carlisle Parliamentary ConstituencyCumbria Number of dairy farms (a)Number of dairy cows (Thousand Head)Number of dairy farms (a)Number of dairy cows (Thousand Head)201249884910620134998231052014499807109 Source: Cattle Tracing System.  (a) Defined as the number of holdings with more than 10 dairy cows over 2 yrs old in the milking herd (i.e. with offspring)

Air Pollution: York

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what information her Department holds on the levels of air pollution at (a) Collygate in York and (b) other measured points in York Central constituency in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Rory Stewart: Defra uses both monitoring and modelling to assess air quality in the UK. Information about recent and historic levels of pollution, pollution forecasts, health advice and background modelled data is available on the UK-AIR website. Defra has two monitoring stations in the City of York Local Authority area, both of which are located in the York Central constituency. Information about the sites and the pollutants measured is available as follows: · York Fishergate: http://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/networks/site-info?uka_id=UKA00524 · York Bootham: http://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/networks/site-info?uka_id=UKA00523  Local Authorities are responsible for reviewing and assessing air quality under the Local Air Quality Management system. As part of this assessment, the City of York Council undertakes additional monitoring. Information can be found at: http://www.jorair.co.uk/index.php?page=stations

Air Pollution

Harry Harpham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to tackle dangerous levels of air pollution in towns and cities.

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to tackle excessive levels of air pollution in towns or cities.

Rory Stewart: We are fully committed to complying with EU air quality standards as soon as possible. We have already committed over £2 billion since 2011 in transport measures to improve air quality and will be publishing revised air quality plans for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) by the end of this year. The plans will set out actions at all levels, including national and local, to achieve compliance with legal limits for NO2 in the shortest possible time.

Air Pollution

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, by what date she plans to publish a new consultation on air quality.

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, by what date she plans to publish a new national air quality plan.

Rory Stewart: Revised air quality plans for nitrogen dioxide will be published by the end of 2015. A 40 day public consultation on draft plans will be held later this year. The Government is committed to complying in the shortest possible time with limit values for nitrogen dioxide under the Air Quality Directive. The consultation will set out our projected dates for UK compliance.

Insecticides

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will publish the application made by the National Farmers Union for a derogation from restrictions on the use of neonicotinoids.

George Eustice: The Government is currently considering applications for emergency authorisation of neonicotinoid seed treatments for use on oilseed rape. All applications are treated as commercially sensitive and therefore are not published.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Families: Disadvantaged

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, on what basis additional funding for the Troubled Families initiative will be allocated to local authority areas.

Greg Clark: Upper tier local authorities are offered funding as part of the Troubled Families Programme on the basis of the number of families eligible for the programme within their area.

Communities and Local Government: Cost Effectiveness

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to the HM Treasury press release, Chancellor announces £4.5 billion of measures to bring down debt, published on 4 June 2015, what efficiency savings his Department plans to make to achieve reductions of £230 million in its budget.

Mr Mark Francois: I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton North East (Emma Reynolds) of 10 June, PQ 1256

Right to Buy Scheme

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with the National Housing Federation on the potential effects of the proposed extension of the right to buy for housing association tenants.

Brandon Lewis: Ministers and senior officials in my Department are engaging on an ongoing basis with the National Housing Federation in relation to key policy issues.

Local Government Finance: Enfield

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much the London Borough of Enfield local authority received in (a) central government funding and (b) government grants in each of the last five years.

Mr Marcus Jones: Statistics on revenue expenditure funding are published by local authority in the Revenue Outturn Summary, which are available at the following link:http://www.gov.uk/government/collections/local-authority-revenue-expenditure-and-financing

Regional Planning and Development: North of England

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what geographic area is covered by the Government's Northern Powerhouse initiative.

James Wharton: The exact extent of the North in the context of the Northern Powerhouse is not prescribed by the Government.

Local Enterprise Partnerships: North East

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what progress the North East Local Enterprise Partnership has made on each of its principal functions since its formation.

James Wharton: Reporting on the progress made by the North East Local Enterprise Partnership on delivering their Strategic Economic Plan is a matter for the Local Enterprise Partnership and they published a review in March 2015 which is available at: http://nelep.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/North-East-LEP-Annual-Review-2014-to-2015lr.pdf

Counter-terrorism

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to help local authorities meet the statutory duties imposed on them by the Counter Terrorism Act 2015.

Mr Marcus Jones: Holding answer received on 16 June 2015



My Department and the Home Office have worked with the Local Government Association to raise awareness of the responsibilities local authorities will have under the duty. These are detailed in the statutory guidance published in March setting out the types of activity we expect specified authorities to consider when complying with the duty, which includes a chapter aimed specifically at local authorities: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/417943/Prevent_Duty_Guidance_England_Wales.pdf A training package called the Workshop to Raise Awareness of Prevent (WRAP) has been provided to public sector workers and others in the community since 2007, including local authorities. It is designed to help identify when people may be vulnerable to radicalisation, how to raise concerns and what proportionate responses should be taken. It is regularly updated and refreshed to deal with any emerging issues.

Neighbourhood Development Plans

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to streamline the Neighbourhood Planning process.

Brandon Lewis: Over 1,500 communities, representing over 6 million people, have started the process of neighbourhood planning. The Government wants to support communities that actively seek to meet local housing and other development needs through neighbourhood planning, and our £22.5 million support programme for 2015-18 offers a range of financial and technical support and online resources to support neighbourhood planning. The Queen's Speech to Parliament also set out that the Housing Bill would include measures to speed up the neighbourhood planning process. We will be publishing more details in due course. These reforms will build on the reforms to speed up and simplify the process that took effect in February.

Right to Buy Scheme: Southwark

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the total number of housing association properties in the London Borough of Southwark that would become available to buy under the Government's current proposal to extend the right to buy policy to housing association tenants.

Brandon Lewis: The development of the policy is ongoing, and details will be set out in due course.

Children in Care: Council Tax

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will put in place support to assist care leavers with the payment of council tax.

Mr Marcus Jones: Care leavers on low incomes will be entitled to support under local council tax support schemes. They may also be entitled to existing council tax discounts or exemptions, for example by virtue of being students or single occupiers. Local authorities have broad discretion to grant discounts to individuals or groups in other circumstances, and they may wish to consider providing support specifically to care leavers.

Help to Buy Scheme

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the average cost of properties sold to first-time buyers under the Help to Buy scheme in (a) England, (b) East Midlands and (c) Ashfield.

Brandon Lewis: Information on the average cost of homes sold to first time buyers under Help to Buy is not currently published. However figures are available on the average cost of all homes sold under the Help to Buy: Mortgage Guarantee scheme for England (£163,921). Available figures for the Help to Buy: Equity Loan scheme show the average cost of all homes was £212,932 in England.

Right to Buy Scheme: Ashfield

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many properties were bought in Ashfield under the Right-to-Buy Scheme in each of the last 10 years.

Brandon Lewis: Statistics on annual Right to Buy sales for each local authority district in England are published in the Department’s Live Table 685 which is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-social-housing-salesQuarterly data for 2014/15 for each local authority district in England will be published in Live Table 691 on 25 June 2015.

Wales Office

UK Membership of EU: Referendums

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions he has had in Wales on a referendum on the UK's membership of the European Union.

Stephen Crabb: I am discussing the UK’s membership of the European Union with people and businesses across Wales. So far, the people and businesses I have spoken to have told me that they want a less intrusive, less costly and less burdensome membership of the European Union. We intend to secure that and deliver an in-out referendum by the end of 2017.

British Steel: Pensions

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues and representatives from the steel industry on the decision by Tata Steel to close the British Steel Pension Scheme.

Stephen Crabb: I have discussed the steel industry in Wales with representatives of the industry as well as with Ministerial colleagues and the Welsh Government.Negotiations on the British Steel Pension Scheme are a matter for Tata and the Trade Unions.

Public Expenditure: Wales

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what steps the Government plans to take to help working people in Wales.

Alun Cairns: Building on successes of the last Parliament, we will work to ensure that people in Wales keep more of the money they earn. It is our ambition to raise the personal allowance even further to £12,500 and ensure no one on the minimum wage ever pays tax on their income.

Welfare State: Wales

John Howell: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what assessment he has made of the effect of welfare reform on employment levels in Wales.

Stephen Crabb: Welfare reform is working in Wales and people are seizing the opportunity to support themselves through hard work. Since 2010, we have seen over 54,000 fewer people claiming out of work benefits and employment increase by 61,000.

HM Treasury

Child Benefit: Lone Parents

Mr David Anderson: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the effect is on the income of a single parent with two children of choosing not to claim child benefit because they are subject to the High Income Child Benefit Tax Charge.

Damian Hinds: There is no effect on the single parent’s income. However, as the single parent is choosing not to claim Child Benefit, it means that they do not receive Child Benefit at a rate of £34.40 per week (£20.70 for the eldest child, and £13.70 for the additional child).

Multinational Companies: Tax Avoidance

Paul Flynn: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to tackle tax avoidance by multinational companies.

Mr David Gauke: The government takes the issue of tax avoidance by multinational companies seriously. Legislation for the Diverted Profits Tax was introduced in Finance Act 2015 effective from 1 April 2015 to counter the use of contrived arrangements by multinational companies to erode the UK tax base. The UK has also continued to lead the way on reform of the international tax rules to address tax avoidance by multinational companies through the G20-OECD Base Erosion and Profit Shifting Project. Legislation to implement the OECD model for country-by-country reporting was introduced in Finance Act 2015. The UK has also committed to introduce the OECD agreed rules to address hybrid mismatch arrangements.

Working Tax Credit: Overpayments

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2015 to Question 578, for what reasons a temporary rise in tax credit related debt was forecast to take place before the replacement of tax credits by universal credit.

Mr David Gauke: Although a number of measures have been introduced to prevent the occurrence of tax credits overpayments - and we will continue to consider further measures - we expect that tax credits related debt will continue to rise as we move towards it being replaced by Universal Credit due to the design of the tax credits system.  The tax credits system is an annual system – all awards and payments are “provisional” until finalised after the end of the year, once income and family circumstances are confirmed.  Tax credits are responsive to changes in claimants’ circumstances: overpayments – as well as underpayments – typically occur because people do not report changes promptly. However, due to the annual nature of the tax credits system, with tax credits awards being based on household income for a tax year, overpayments can occur even when the claimant and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) do everything right. Where error and fraud is identified, overpayments are generated.

Royal Family: Taxation

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 8 June 2015 to Question 956 and with reference to the 2013 Memorandum of Understanding on Royal Taxation referred to in that Answer, for what reasons his policy is to accord HM The Queen the same privacy and confidentiality in relation to her tax affairs when she pays tax on a voluntary basis, unlike other taxpayers.

Mr David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has a statutory duty to maintain taxpayer confidentiality, which applies to all information the department holds in connection with its functions.

Child Benefit

Mr David Anderson: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2015 to Question 1239, on child benefit, what estimate he has made of the potential costs of obtaining the requested information.

Mr David Gauke: The cost considered by the Treasury to be disproportionate is £850.   HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) are unable to provide an answer to question 1239 within proportionate costs as information stored on the Child Benefit system does not contain details of i) income of claimants and ii) whether claimants are in a single or joint claim.   This means to obtain the information, additional data (such as Self-Assessment) would have to be matched to claimant’s details to obtain their income. Further matching to further datasets would then be required to determine whether the claimant is a single or couple claimant.

Children: Day Care

Gloria De Piero: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with childcare providers on the delivery of tax-free childcare.

Damian Hinds: HMRC and HMT have actively engaged with childcare providers and industry representatives since the scheme was first announced and continue to do so as it moves towards implementation.   HMRC has also established an implementation advisory forum to support the delivery of Tax-Free Childcare, on which the childcare sector is well represented.

Working Tax Credit: Overpayments

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 8 June 2015 to Question 574, what assessment he has made of whether the debt collection methods used by Rossendales comply with the standards required by HM Revenue and Customs of its debt collection agencies.

Mr David Gauke: The response on 8 June to question 574 relates to all debt collection agencies that work with HM Revenue and Customs.

Tourism: VAT

John Healey: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to review the economic case for a reduction in VAT for the hospitality sector.

Mr David Gauke: The Government has reviewed the economic case for a reduction in VAT for the hospitality sector.   The Governments position set out in the Westminster Hall debate on 17 March 2015.

Cabinet Office

Interpreters

Kate Green: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Crown Commercial Service's framework agreement for the provision of language services (a) only supplies communication and language professionals working with deaf and deafblind people who meet the standards set by the National Registers of Communication Professionals working with Deaf and Deafblind People (NRCPD), (b) contains terms and conditions that he considers are likely to attract qualified and NRCPD-registered communication and language professionals working with deaf and deafblind people and (c) at the tendering stage, does not give greater priority to cost than quality considerations in relation to decisions about the letting of contracts and provides a level playing field for small and medium-sized enterprises with larger firms.

Matthew Hancock: The Crown Commercial Service’s Language Services Framework Agreement (RM1092) will provide a standardised contracting route that enables procurement authorities to engage British Sign Language translators to deliver high-quality and cost-effective services that maintain national interpreting standards. The minimum qualifications for British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters employed through the framework shall be those listed at http://www.nrcpd.org.uk and they must be registered with the National Register of Communication Professionals working with Deaf and Deafblind people, (NRCPD), or the Scottish Association of Sign Language Interpreters (SASLI).

Youth Services: Finance

Kate Osamor: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much central government funding was allocated to youth services in each of the last five years; and what assessment he has made of the effects on young people's outcomes of changes in the level of such funding.

Mr Rob Wilson: Central Government does not specifically allocate funding for the delivery of youth services. It is the responsibility of local authorities to decide how to allocate funding for youth services, according to local need. There is an existing statutory duty on local authorities through Education Act 2006 (Section 507B) to secure, as far as is practicable, sufficient services and activities to improve the wellbeing of young people.

Digital Technology

Chris Bryant: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which Minister in his Department is responsible for the Digital Inclusion Strategy.

Matthew Hancock: I have responsibility for the Government's Digital Inclusion Strategy.

Iraq Committee of Inquiry

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the reasons are for the time taken to publish the Chilcot report.

Matthew Hancock: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my Rt Hon Friend the Prime Minister on 4 June 2015 to UIN 556.

Unemployment: Females

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the (a) number and (b) percentage of women recorded as economically inactive who have achieved qualifications (i) up to and including KS4, (ii) at KS5 and (iii) in higher education in each year since 2010.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply. 



UKSA Letter to Member - Economically Inactive
(PDF Document, 142.1 KB)

General Election 2015

Simon Danczuk: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much was accrued to the public purse as a result of candidates losing their deposits at the 2015 General Election.

John Penrose: Every candidate standing in the General Election must pay a deposit of £500, which is forfeited if they fail to gain five per cent of the vote in the constituency in which they are standing.The total amount that is to be returned to the Consolidated Fund as a result of candidates losing their deposit at the 2015 General Election is £773,000. This represents 1,546 candidates that lost their deposit.

Corruption

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to Action 39 of the UK Anti-Corruption Plan, published in December 2014, when the proposed review of the enforcement response to bribery and corruption will be published.

Mr Oliver Letwin: The UK Anti-Corruption Plan, published in December 2014, stated that Cabinet Office will take forward a review of the enforcement response to bribery and corruption more broadly, reporting to the Inter-Ministerial Group on Anti-Corruption (IMG) by June 2015.

Department for Culture Media and Sport

Mobile Phones: Rural Areas

James Cartlidge: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent steps he has taken to improve mobile telephone coverage in rural areas.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The Government secured a landmark agreement with mobile network operators (MNOs) in December 2014 that locks in £5 billion investment from the MNOs to deliver improved mobile coverage across the UK. The coverage obligation has since been made legally binding on MNOs by a licence variation and will guarantee voice and SMS text coverage for 90% of the UK landmass from each MNO by 2017. As a result complete not-spots, where there is no mobile signal from any operator, will be cut by nearly two thirds. Additionally, Telefonica has a licence obligation to provide 4G coverage to 98% of UK premises by 2017. Through the Mobile Infrastructure Project, the Government is extending mobile coverage to the 0.3-0.4% of UK premises who currently have none. Work is underway in the constituency of South Suffolk to identify whether masts could be sited near Assington Green, Bildeston and Boxford.

Leader of the House

Devolution: England

Kirsty Blackman: To ask the Leader of the House, if he will set out in his proposals for English votes for English laws whether only hon. Members for constituencies in England would be able to participate in (a) committee stages and (b) the committee of the whole House for bills with England-only implications.

Kirsty Blackman: To ask the Leader of the House, with reference to page 24 of Implications for Devolution of England, Cm 8969, published in December 2014, when he plans that proposed arrangements for English votes for English laws will be put on a statutory footing.

Kirsty Blackman: To ask the Leader of the House, what plans he has for public consultation in advance of decision of the House on proposals on English votes for English laws.

Chris Grayling: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 15 June 2015 to Question UIN 1927

Department of Health

Breast Cancer: Older People

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to ensure that breast cancer scans are made available for over 70s.

Jane Ellison: The Northern Ireland Executive is responsible for healthcare in Northern Ireland. The answer to this parliamentary question on breast screening gives the position in England.   The NHS Breast Screening Programme routinely invites women aged 50 to 70 for free breast screening every three years. Women over 70 can request free three yearly screening. More details on how to self-refer can be found at:   http://www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/breastscreen/over-70.html   The breast screening age extension randomisation trial began in 2008 and is investigating extending the programme to women aged 71-73 as the risk of breast cancer continues to rise after the end of routine invitations. The 2014 International Agency for Research on Cancer review concluded that screening of women aged 70 to 74 resulted in a significant reduction in breast cancer mortality. This trial will report in the 2020s. More information regarding screening over the age of 70 can be found at:   http://www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/breastscreen/publications/l-02.html.   Public Health England and the NHS Breast Screening Programme recognise and support campaign work to encourage women to be aware of breast cancer, over the age of 70, such as the ‘Be Clear on Cancer’ campaign which ran. An initial interim analysis has been undertaken to assess the number of women in this age range self-referring into the breast screening programme during the campaign period. Early preliminary results currently show that during the six weeks in February/March of 2014, in which period the campaign ran, a total of 21,607 women self-referred. This was compared to 9,175 women in the equivalent six week period in 20111, when there was no campaign running.   1 2011 is used as a comparator due to there being a three year screening round – i.e. women are invited for breast screening every three years up to age 70 (after which they can self-refer)

Narcolepsy

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people have been diagnosed with narcolepsy in each of the last five years.

Jane Ellison: The Department does not hold data on the number of people that have been diagnosed with narcolepsy in each of the last five years.

Heart Diseases: Stem Cells

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the likely timescale for making available on the NHS treatment for heart disease using stem cells.

George Freeman: The Department is aware of the research on the use of adult stem cells to treat heart disease and supports the development of regenerative medicine technologies. As this therapy is still in the clinical trial stage, it is not possible to make any meaningful estimate of when such treatments will be available on the National Health Service.

Cancer

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average waiting times for cancer (a) assessments and (b) operations was in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Jane Ellison: Average waiting times for cancer assessments and operations are not collected.

Health Education

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to encourage people to adopt a healthy lifestyle involving regular exercise, a healthy diet, brain training, and social interaction.

Jane Ellison: Public Health England (PHE) has a number of work programmes designed to support individuals to take action to reduce their rate of cognitive decline by adopting healthy lifestyles through stopping smoking, keeping physically active, drinking less, eating well and reducing their blood pressure.   PHE publishes evidence-based dietary guidance and works with a wide range of partners to, help promote consumers adopt a healthy, balanced diet as part of an overall healthy lifestyle. This includes campaigns run through PHE’s flagship social marketing platform ‘Change4Life’.   PHE published Everybody Active Every Day to provide a whole system approach to reducing inactivity and to support more children and adults achieving the levels of physical activity and muscle strengthening exercise recommended by the Chief Medical Officer.   PHE has delivered a number of initiatives that consider social interaction as a key component of health and wellbeing for the population. These include: a comprehensive review of the evidence around ‘what works’ for using a community assets based approach for reducing social isolation and reducing the need for additional healthcare to improve the quality of life for older people; and intervention pilots via general practice referral followed by full-scale intervention of ‘what works’ for reducing social isolation, based on review of currently available literature.   PHE has also published an evidence guide to community-centred approaches that will increase people's opportunities for social interaction. We are working with national partners and localities to increase the availability of such approaches and the importance of social interaction to health and wellbeing.

Bones: Fractures

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many cases have been referred back to A & E for broken bones not diagnosed at an initial visit to A & E in each of the last five years.

Jane Ellison: Healthcare in Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive. Data for England is not collected centrally.

Heart Diseases

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will discuss with the British Medical Association and the British Heart Foundation the diagnostic efficacy of online heart risk calculator applications and whether such applications should be available on the NHS.

Jane Ellison: In October 2014, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published an updated clinical guideline on lipid modification. This guideline makes recommendations on cardiovascular risk assessment and the prevention of cardiovascular disease.   The guideline recommends that practitioners should use the QRISK2 risk assessment tool to calculate patients’ risk of developing cardiovascular disease. QRISK2 calculates patients’ 10-year risk of developing cardiovascular disease. The tool can be found on line at:   http://www.qrisk.org/   A separate risk calculator has been developed by the Joint British Societies for the prevention of cardiovascular disease (JBS3) which calculates both 10-year and lifetime risk. NICE considered whether lifetime risk calculators should be used but concluded that a 10-year risk calculator is more appropriate in determining when to initiate treatment. Both NICE and JBS3 recommend that a 10-year risk of developing cardiovascular disease should be used to determine whether to treat people with lifestyle advice or drugs. A version of the JSB3 10-year risk calculator can be found on the NHS Choices website:   https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-health-check/pages/check-your-heart-age-tool.aspx

Poultry: Campylobacter

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to monitor and reduce campylobacter in chickens.

Jane Ellison: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is working with industry to tackle campylobacter, through the Acting on Campylobacter Together campaign (ACT campaign). Additionally, the FSA has provided guidance for consumers on the safety measures that they can take to reduce their risk of spreading and contracting campylobacter from raw poultry in the home.

Erythromycin: Pregnant Women

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will discuss with the British Medical Association and other medical bodies the potential effects of erythromycin on unborn babies and pregnant women.

George Freeman: The Department has no plans to discuss the potential effects of erythromycin on unborn babies or pregnant women with the British Medical Association and other medical bodies.   The Commission on Human Medicines has recommended that no change to the licence for erythromycin is required. Infection in pregnancy can cause serious harm, both to the mother and baby, and it is essential that pregnant women receive treatment with an appropriate antibiotic, including erythromycin, when necessary.

Cervical Cancer: Young People

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received about increasing access to cervical screenings for women under the age of 25.

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what consideration he has given to increasing access to cervical screenings for women under the age of 25.

Jane Ellison: A parliamentary debate on cervical screening was held on 1 May 2014, Official Report, column 1025. The debate was secured by the Member for Liverpool, Walton (Steve Rotheram) and the focus of the debate was cervical cancer and screening in younger women.   A search of the Department’s Ministerial correspondence database has identified 11 items of correspondence received since 1 January 2015 about cervical screening for women under the age of 25. This is a minimum figure which represents correspondence received by the Department’s Ministerial correspondence unit only.   In 2012 the UK National Screening Committee recommended that the age of first invitation for cervical screening should be age 25 on the basis that there is evidence of a large number of women screened and treated with relatively little benefit below this age. Cervical cancer in women under the age of 25 is very rare with just 2.6 cases per 100,000 women. Younger women often undergo natural and harmless changes in the cervix that screening would identify as cervical abnormalities, and in most cases these abnormalities resolve themselves without any need for treatment.   Guidance for primary care on the management of young women who present with gynecological symptoms was developed and published in March 2010, Clinical practice guidelines for the assessment of young women aged 20-24 with abnormal vaginal bleeding. The guidance was produced by a multi-disciplinary group, including professionals, patients and the voluntary sector. It was reviewed by a number of general practitioners (GPs), and was endorsed by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Royal College of General Practitioners and the Royal College of Physicians.   A smear test is primarily used for screening purposes, and is unlikely to be appropriate when a woman has gynaecological issues that are symptomatic of cancer. In such cases the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer (2005) are available to help GPs assess when it is appropriate to refer patients for suspected cancer, including cervical cancer. The Guidelines make clear recommendations in relation to gynaecological cancer, and state that:   “A patient who presents with symptoms suggesting gynaecological cancer should be referred to a team specialising in the management of gynaecological cancer, depending on local arrangements.”   In relation to cervical cancer the Guidelines make clear that a smear test is not required before referral:   “In patients found on examination to have clinical features that raise the suspicion of cervical cancer, an urgent referral should be made. A cervical smear test is not required before referral, and a previous negative cancer smear result is not a reason to delay referral.”   Therefore, when a woman is experiencing gynaecological problems which are symptomatic of gynaecological cancer, their GP would be expected to refer them to the appropriate specialist without needing to conduct a smear test.

Hepatitis

Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of time taken to approve and implement NHS England's proposed Interim Commissioning Policy for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C on patients with cirrhosis.

Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what procedural steps remain to be taken so that the proposed NHS England Interim Commissioning Policy for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in patients with cirrhosis can be implemented.

Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the proposed NHS England Interim Commissioning Policy for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in patients with cirrhosis is expected to be implemented.

Jane Ellison: NHS England committed to produce and publish a policy for the treatment of chronic hepatitis in patients with cirrhosis in the first half of 2015. This was published on 10 June 2015. This policy enables early access to new oral therapies, ahead of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence appraisals. Implementation is with immediate effect.

Hepatitis: Health Services

Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate his Department has made of the number of patients who will receive treatment through the Interim Commissioning Policy for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in patients with cirrhosis.

Jane Ellison: The Department has not made an estimate of the number of patients who will receive treatment through the Interim Commissioning Policy for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in patients with cirrhosis but NHS England has taken into account publically available data on the prevalence of patients with cirrhosis and has also taken into account that not all patients will take up the new treatments. The policy criteria permits any patient who meets the eligibility criteria to receive treatment.

Health Professions: Regulation

Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to amend the regulation of nurses and midwives.

Ben Gummer: This Government has been clear about its commitment to take forward the valuable recommendations made by the Law Commissions for reformed legislation on regulation of health and (in England) social care professionals. We remain committed to bringing forward legislation as soon as Parliamentary time allows. This will be a substantial Bill and it is important that Parliament has sufficient time to give it the consideration it requires.   Consideration is also being given to what legislative vehicle is appropriate to amend the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s governing legislation to remove its current responsibility and accountability for statutory supervision of midwives in the United Kingdom. Our intention is to act as swiftly as possible to legislate.

Health Services: Expenditure

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average per capita funding level was for (a) primary care and (b) public health in (i) the UK, (ii) London and (iii) Enfield in each of the last five years.

Alistair Burt: The implementation of the Health and Social Care Act 2012 from April 2013 changed the way that health system was organised, and as part of this how funding was distributed to different parts of the system. Therefore we are not able to supply the data for 2011-12 and 2012-13 as requested, as this would not be comparable with the data recorded from 2013-14 onwards.   Decisions on health spending are also a devolved matter, so we are able to provide data for England, but not for the United Kingdom as a whole.   Local authorities (LAs) in England took over public health responsibilities from April 2013, data prior to this is not available. The table below shows the average per head of capita allocation for England, London region, Enfield LA and the Office of National Statistics (ONS) cluster for Enfield LA. The ONS Cluster group LAs into clusters based on similar characteristics on health.   Public health allocations per head of upper tier local authority population and England from 2013/14 to 2015/16 Average per capita funding2013/142014/152015/16England£49£51£51London region£61£67£67London Suburbs (ONS cluster)£43£49N/AEnfield£40£43£43   NHS England is responsible for the allocation of primary care funding and funding for Section 7A (s.7A), which outlines specific responsibilities for NHS England for the commissioning of certain public health services as part of the wider system design to drive improvements in population health.   The table below shows the total allocation and average per capita allocation for primary care and s.7A in England, London and Enfield. Borough level reporting, however, is not available for public health services (s.7A), as the services are commissioned on a London basis. The figures shown are indicative and based on the Primary Care Trust (PCT) baseline mapping exercise and overall London uplifts in funding.  2013/14 funding allocations2014/15 funding allocations2015/16 funding allocations Primary Care*s.7APrimary Cares.7APrimary Cares.7A Total (£bn)Per Capita(£)Total (£bn)Per Capita(£)Total (£bn)Per Capita(£)Total (£bn)Per Capita(£)Total (£bn)Per Capita(£)Total (£bn)Per Capita(£)England11.952121.713012.012121.83212.292151.7130London1.9252090.239261.92100.262291.962110.275**30Enfield0.061880.008250.072150.00876270.072160.009229 * Primary care allocation includes secondary care dental services. Borough level reporting was not available for primary care services in 2013-14, the figures shown are estimated indicative amounts based on the baseline mapping by Enfield PCT.   ** S.7A 2015-16 allocation is pre transfer of 0-5 Health Visiting services to LAs from 1 October 2015. The post transfer allocation figure is £0.19 billion.

Health Services: Greater London

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Clinical Strategy on improving (a) accident and emergency service provision levels at Barnet and North Middlesex Hospital, (b) urgent care services at Chase Farm Hospital and (c) primary care provision in those boroughs; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of the closure of the A&E department and maternity unit at Chase Farm Hospital in 2013 on the A&E and maternity services provided by (a) Barnet General and (b) North Middlesex University Hospital.

Ben Gummer: These are matters for the local National Health Service.   We are advised that following the implementation of the Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Clinical Strategy, emergency services at Barnet and North Middlesex University hospitals have been expanded and redeveloped. Over £100 million has been invested in the North Middlesex Hospital which now has one of the largest accident and emergency departments in London, and receives an average of 500 patients every 24 hours. Maternity services at Barnet and North Middlesex University hospitals have been expanded and redeveloped, with increased consultant cover and more midwives on labour wards. Antenatal and postnatal services are still available on the Chase Farm site.

Chase Farm Hospital: Opening Hours

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has had with the (a) Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust and (b) Enfield Clinical Commissioning Group on extending permanently the opening times of the urgent care centre at Chase Farm Hospital.

Jane Ellison: These issues are for National Health Service local determination based on clinical leadership.   The extended opening hours were introduced on 5 January 2015 as a pilot and that Enfield Clinical Commissioning Group is currently undertaking a wider review of local urgent care services. NHS England is committed to continuing to fund the extended opening hours of the urgent care centre until the urgent care review in Enfield is completed.

Meningitis: Vaccination

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the timescale is on the rollout of the Meningitis B Bexsero Vaccine; what recent discussions he has had on making this vaccine available to teenage student groups; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison: The national meningococcal B (MenB) immunisation programme for infants is planned to start in England in September 2015. We will be confirming details shortly.   The Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has not recommended the use of MenB vaccine in other age groups. However, JCVI did advise that further research is needed into the effectiveness of the MenB vaccine, Bexsero® in preventing transmission of infection in adolescents. The Department is working with JCVI, Public Health England and groups currently conducting research into meningococcal carriage, to address JCVI’s advice.

Nabiximols

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether NICE plans to conduct a full technology appraisal of Sativex form of nabiximols to allow the drug to be prescribed on the NHS.

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether he plans to allow routine access on the NHS in England to the medicine Sativex.

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will direct NICE to conduct a full technology appraisal of the Sativex form of nabiximols to allow the drug to be prescribed on the NHS.

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether NICE plans to allow routine access on the NHS in England to the Sativex form of nabiximols.

George Freeman: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published a clinical guideline on multiple sclerosis in 2014 that does not recommend Sativex (nabiximols) as a clinically and cost effective use of National Health Service resources. This is available at:   www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg186/chapter/1-recommendations   Therefore we have no plans to ask NICE to carry out a technology appraisal of Sativex for the treatment of spasticity in multiple sclerosis.   It is for commissioners to decide whether to fund this treatment for individual patients.

Abortion: Lobbying

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 5 June 2015 to Question 219, on abortion: lobbying, whether he has issued any guidance to clinical commissioning groups on that matter; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison: No guidance has been issued to clinical commissioning groups on this issue.

NHS: Negligence

Mr John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many cases brought against the NHS Litigation Authority were funded by (a) legal aid, (b) a conditional fee agreement and (c) other forms of funding in each of the last five years; and how many cases in each category resulted in compensation payments.

Mr John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many claims the NHS Litigation Authority settled without proceedings being issued in each of the last five years.

Ben Gummer: The information is shown in the tables attached. 



NHS Litigation Authority claims/cases
(Word Document, 53.5 KB)

General Practitioners: Enfield

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to address the need of Enfield Clinical Commissioning Group for 50 per cent more GPs over the next five years projected by the Royal College of General Practitioners.

Ben Gummer: This is a matter for the local National Health Service.   We are advised that the local NHS estimates that the number of additional general practitioners required to meet patient need in Enfield is generally in line with projections for North Central London, London and England overall.

General Practitioners

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the findings in the February 2015 report by the Royal College of General Practitioners which projected GP shortages across England by 2020.

Ben Gummer: The Government’s mandate to Health Education England (HEE) requires it to ensure that a minimum of 3,250 trainees per year (equating to approximately half of the annual number of trainees completing foundation training and moving into specialisations) are recruited to general practitioner (GP) training programmes in England by 2016; bringing forward substantial numbers of new GPs through training is a key part of this.   HEE, NHS England, the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) and, the BMA GP committee are working closely together to ensure that we have a skilled, trained and motivated workforce in general practice.   In January, a £10 million investment was announced to kick-start a new plan to expand the general practice workforce. The money will be used to recruit new GPs, retain those that are thinking of leaving the profession and encourage doctors to return to general practice to better meet the needs of patients now and for the future.   HEE identified a need for a national Induction and Refresher Scheme which was launched in March 2015 and is administered through the GP National Recruitment Office. Candidates now have a standardised entry point to help speed up the time it takes to process individuals through the scheme and also making it easier for candidates to access relevant information.   HEE will ensure a minimum of 3,250 trainees per year (equating to approximately half of the annual number of trainees completing foundation training and moving into specialisations) are recruited to GP training programmes in England by 2016.

Health and Care Professions Council: Fees and Charges

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the implications for health professionals of the decision by the Health and Care Professions Council to increase its mandatory registration fee; and what information he holds on whether that Council assessed the affordability of that increase for (a) part-time and (b) other members.

Ben Gummer: The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) is a self-financing, independent regulator that is accountable to Parliament through the Professional Standards Authority whose role is to assess the HCPC’s performance, conduct audits, scrutinise their decisions and report to Parliament.   The professional regulators are funded by registrant fees and as independent bodies it is for them to set their fees at a level which ensures they can fulfil their statutory role of protecting, promoting and maintaining the health and safety of the public.   As part of the process for raising fees the HCPC undertook a public consultation, the responses from which were considered by the HCPC before implementing the fee rise.

Health and Care Professions Council: Fees and Charges

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to encourage the Health and Care Professions Council to evaluate the effect of its recent increase in mandatory registration fees.

Ben Gummer: The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) is a self-financing, independent regulator that is accountable to Parliament through the Professional Standards Authority whose role is to assess the HCPC’s performance, conduct audits, scrutinise their decisions and report to Parliament.   In determining the level of fee increase the HCPC undertook a public consultation and considered the responses before setting the fee.   It is for the council of the HCPC to determine what evaluation it commissions on its recent increase in mandatory registration fees.

Health and Care Professions Council: Fees and Charges

Mr David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will ask the House's Health Committee, when constituted, to undertake an inquiry into the proposed fee increase by the Health and Care Professionals Council; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Gummer: The Health Select Committee is established by the House of Commons to examine the policy, administration and expenditure of the Department and its associated bodies, which includes the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). In the last Parliament, the Committee reported on the HCPC in 2014.   It is for the Committee to choose its own subjects of inquiry.

Air Pollution

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the total amount spent by the NHS on health care needed as a result of air pollution in each of the last three years.

Jane Ellison: The Department does not have an estimate of the total amount spent by the National Health Service on healthcare as a result of air pollution.